Disclaimer: I do not own Bioware or Mass Effect

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Author Note: I never understood why an individual as powerful and as well connected as Saren would risk revealing his loyalties by attacking Eden Prime directly rather than using middlemen to do his dirty work for him. Yes, I know, it's part of story plot but it just doesn't make much sense when you consider his character and the reapers generally work through middle men until the harvest begins...

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Mass Effect: Dark Webs

History

In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spare faring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artefacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.

They called it the greatest discovery in human history.

The civilizations of the galaxy call it...

Mass Effect

Serpent Nebula – Citadel

Councillor Tevo silently watched the presidium below her as half dozen different races went about their daily business around the ancient space station simply known as the Citadel.

For almost 400 years now she had acted as Asari councillor on the Citadel, softly guiding the peoples of the galaxy with her wisdom to a brighter future of unity and peace. The Citadel was the nexus of the galactic community; the political, cultural, and financial capital of civilized space, housing the grand Citadel Council, a powerful, multi-species governing body created by her own species over fifteen hundred years ago.

Unfortunately her species could not lay claim to creating the engineering wonder that was known as the Citadel, instead they had simply found it abandoned at the heart of the mass relay network.

Current evidence suggested that the 50 mile long space station had been created by the now extinct space faring race known simply has the Protheans, that travelled the stars close to 50 thousand years ago. Predictably, with their extinction it made many people wonder why? With many experts from multiply different species coming up with their own unique and colourful theories to explain their unexpected extinction. Unfortunately for everyone there was very little evidence of prothean civilization remaining, besides shattered and badly broken ruins of old settlements, preventing the creation of any solid theories to explain their disappearance, with most individuals simply accepting that the Protheans had somehow wiped themselves outs. Whilst there were many academic arguments that discounted this theory as simply rubbish, people and governments just wanted to accept the explanation that they wiped themselves out in a galactic civil war, rather than worry about the other more realistic alternative scenarios to explain away the Protheans sudden disappearance from the galaxy.

However her own species had found evidence just over four centuries ago that suggested a far more disturbing end, and that the Protheans had been destroyed by their own artificial creations after experimenting with dangerous A.I technology. Predictably, the evidence was extremely limited and highly corrupted after such an extensive period of time, but that was to be expected after fifty thousand years of decay.

Nevertheless the citadel council had immediately acted on the new disturbing information and banned all A.I research recognising the potential danger it represented to citadel community. Whilst sealing away the disturbing evidence to prevent any possible panic amongst the populace that could potentially destabilize the economy. Unsurprisingly there had been opposition to the new law, but with several well documented events involving rogue A.I that had occurred over the previous decades led to most species adopting and fully implementing the new law, with only the Quarians totally disregarding their warnings and the law.

Appropriately the rogue quarians fell prey to their own arrogance when their synthetic servants suddenly became self aware, and the Morning War started leading to the 'Geth' successful driving their organic creators into exile and out of their home star systems in the Perseus Veil.

Even those it had been over 300 years since the Geth uprising, the horrifying memories were imprinted into her mind. She could still remember those frightening days as news spread across citadel space of the Geth uprising, as hourly reports came flooding across her desk, as she and the other citadel councillors were confronted with possibility of the first galactic war between organic and machine. What intensified the fear even more for them, was the private knowledge the three Councillors shared only between themselves, that similar events had possibly lead to Protheans own unexpected extinction by hands of their own A.I servants. Then the desperate homeless quarians immigrants had predictably turned up on the citadel council door step asking for help and military assistance in retaking their home world from the Geth.

But fear had influenced the council combined decision, as she and her two other councillors had readily agreed to make an example out of the remaining homeless quarians, banning them from citadel space, stripping them of their citadel membership, condemning the quarians to exile as warning to the other races for disobeying citadel law. Effectively condemning the Quarians to exile and continuous wandering across the nameless star systems, until they cleaned up the mess they had foolishly created.

There was also the private hope it would prevent the Geth from identifying them as allies of the quarians and leave them be. In hindsight the decision had been overly harsh, but a necessary evil to ensure peace for rest of council races. And has any good politician she had to look out for her own people's interest before the foolish Quarians. It was also hoped at time it would discourage the Baterians from challenging the Citadel Council's authority if they saw the council taking a harder stance on law breakers.

And now 300 years later they were dealing with Quarian's mess once again, as she reread the report on increase Geth activity along the broader, and sightings of heavily armoured dreadnought class vessels. "Are these reports accurate?" Councillor Tevo asked her Salarian counterpart, who was busy reading his own reports.

"Unfortunately yes," Councillor Valern quickly comfirmed, as he blinked his two lagre reptilian eyes. "STG is investigating futher. Additional assets being deployed to the surrounding star systems to monitor the situation."

Nodding her head as she accepted the news, Salarian STG agents were best intelligent gathering operatives in galaxy, and would surly provide them with accurate Intel of the unfolding situation. "Has Sparatus been made aware of the situation?" she asked, wondering if the Turian councillor was fully informed.

"Of course, he is rather confident that the Hierarchy will be capable of handling any Geth aggression into our space," Valern offered quickly, but she notice the subtle change in his body landague that sugguested otherwise.

"But you disagree?" she asked, as she moved away from the window to one of the free seats.

"The Turian miltary is capable, but it would also over stretch council partol fleets, weakening our broaders to possible pirate attacks. And that would destablized trade, weaking our ecomonies, and that in turn would destablize the populace causing futher unrest as people stop investing their money, and that in turn would futher destablized the citideal ecomony and taxation even futher, undermining our collective reasources, and ability to maintain sercuity without increasing taxation. With would cause more resentment and civil unrest, and undermine trade, weaking us futher in a visious cycle of decay," Valern quickly explained without looking up from his data pad, as she mentally went over the salarian's concerns, before concluding that the concerns was well founded and protentially dangerous to every citideal race.

Already knowing her quick thinking counterpart already had a possible solution to the issue, she turned to face him again, "I guess you have a soluation to this problem?" she asked with minor smile on her blue lips, as salarian worked his omi tool.

A sly smile appeared on his aging features, "Naturally," he chipped whilst contining with his valauble work, before realizing she was expecting an longer answer "The Alliance. They can help shoulder the burden."

Considering the sugguestion for moment as she thought about the youngest space faring race. "That could work," she admitted, knowing that the Human miltary was extremly capable force, whilst wondering how best to get humanity to play ball and asist them in maintaining peace. "The Turians won't be happy, you know what they think of humans." She noted, voicing a possible problem to their plans.

"I don't care if Turians are happy, our security is far more important than their oversize egos," Valern stated, making his position clear on the subject.

Mass Effect: Dark Webs

Chapter 1

Feeling the relaxing hum of the mass effect drive core beneath his boots, the gentle pulses running through his harden muscles stimulating the element zero buried in his blood and bones, as the dark energy within his body sang beneath its smoothing caress whilst he carefully read intelligence reports on his upcoming mission.

He was Commander John Shepard of Alliance Special Forces, a N7 Vanguard Operative trained for extreme combat no matter the environment or conditions, capable of killing a krogan with his bare hands, or snapping a man's back with well placed biotic field, as he carefully took another sip of his coffee.

He was also a war hero, an icon that the Alliance military liked to have stand in front of cameras for posters and media aids despite his own objections to media coverage. But as politicians and upper brass say, 'People need heroes; they need role models,' so despite his objections he was made one by Alliance brass. But at heart he was a soldier, enjoying the structure and propose in life the career gave him. Why was he chosen as a role model? He was a story, a testament that a person could change, to grow past their roots.

His early life had been full of hardship that only an orphan living on the back streets of Earth could fully understand, living day to day, doing whatever necessary to endure, to put food in his mouth, a life full of crime. However it wasn't the life he wanted, so when he finally turned 16 he enlisted with the alliance military, with the intention of making a new better life for himself. An honourable life away from crime, a life full of meaning and purpose, that only the Alliance military could offer him. 10 years later with alot of hard work, guts, skill, and good dose of lady luck, he was now one of the most well respected officers within the Alliance military, a rising star, stationed on state of art prototype warship called the Normandy under the command of the legendary Captain Anderson.

He had served under Captain Anderson many times in last 10 years, with the captain easily winning his respect and acting as his role model, and father figure he always wanted to have. And he to in return acted like the son the captain always wanted but could never have since being in military. That was the only major downside of the military, the inability to make long term commitments like having a family, since every battle could be your last. However at same time one joined a ancient brotherhood, a family of sisters and brothers who you could laugh and joke with. And as an orphan, that was something he loved, despite the pain of losing someone in combat. But then you had your blood brothers and sisters to grieve with, to toast with a good bottle of moonshine.

Despite this, he had no regrets about his decision of joining 10 years ago, and if the rumour mill was true, there was talk of promotion coming his way. Of course the rumour mill was often more wrong than right, with basic truths getting twisted and changed by bored marines with two much time on their hands.

He on the other hand studied, or trained whenever he was off duty or had hull in his free time, along with the rest of marine attachment responsible for ship security and ground operations. He had several good reasons for doing so, during his childhood days he had been in a gang called the Tenth Street Reds, and had totally disregarded his education in favour of hanging with them, running drugs, knocking over stores, and that in hindsight he considered to be one of his biggest regrets of his troublesome youth.

That lack of basic education held him back when it came to climbing to the higher military ranks, where intelligent was key, and good academic grades were considered in any promotion, and frankly on personal level he didn't like the idea of being consider a simple 'dumb grunt'. Once again thinking about his old street, the Reds, they had grown into formable criminal organisation on the back streets of Earth in last decade and half based on Alliance intel reports. And it sickened him to know that he was partly responsible for their rise, even if his role in events had been so minor in hindsight.

That was one of thing he learnt as soldier, taking responsibly for your actions, for your mistakes, and fixing them.

Refocusing back on intelligence reports for his upcoming mission, as he carefully read up on the history of prothean devises and the colony of Eden Prime. Eden Prime was a garden world on the edge of human controlled space, with small human colony on the planet surface. Eden Prime had been colonized just over a decade ago by the first human explorers, and since then the new human colony had steadily grown despite its isolation on the frontier and the consent threat of attack from pirate gangs and slavers. To point it now housed a small population of around 20 thousand humans, with small Alliance military present overlooking the frontier colony of about 5 hundred marines. Eden Prime was very much like Earth in terms of atmosphere, gravity, and climate, making it an attractive choice for settlement. However it turned out that Eden Prime was also a former prothean world, with large number of ruins buried beneath it grassy surface, which prevented fast pace colonization under the Alliance and council heritage laws that protected important historical sites from being destroyed, such as prothean ruins.

Eden Prime was also a point of political tension with the Citadel Council, as Humanity jealously guarded the world from the advances of Citadel species. Despite the colony's isolated location on the frontier and small alliance military force, it was far from being an easy target; since it had one of the best defence grids possible to help protect it from slaver and pirates wishing to plunder the colony, and the growing stash of prothean artefacts for themselves.

Eden Prime was proving to be one of the biggest finds of prothean technology in the last two centuries, and under Citadel law, prothean ruins and any prothean technology found had to be openly shared with the other species, but in practise it didn't work out that way. Sharing often goes both ways, and Humanity's leaders strongly expected that the citadel species had their own secret horde of prothean technology locked away for their own benefit advancement, keeping them in control of the galaxy.

Then there was fact that whilst humanity was at peace with citadel council, and was a member species with good open relations with the alternative government, they also were warily of the council after the First Contact War. The First Contact War had been a very small war by galactic standards; lasting only 3 months in total and had ended when another citadel council race called the Asari intervened and negotiated a ceasefire and later a truce between the two races. The Asari unlike the Turians weren't militaristic in nature, preferring to solve problems and conflict through discussion. But it had left a lasting impression on human race after the unprovoked attack on human world of Shanxi. Gone was wonder and awe of earlier exploration, gone was romance and appeal of the frontier, as Humanity's eyes were violently opened to numerous threats around them. Since that day they first meet the Turians, the military powerhouse between the citadel council control space, the Humans and Turians had been at odds with each other.

After all, you weren't going to share advance military technologies with a possible enemy were you?

"Commander Shepard, please report to the CIC, Captain Anderson wises to speak with you," Normandy's helmsmen declared suddenly over the coms, interrupting his reading.

Mass Effect

Quickly gearing up in his trademark Black N7 combat armour, the light weight armoured plates easily slotting into place as he swiftly got ready to response to emergency distress called from Eden Prime. His mind replayed the distress call, looking for any hint or clue that could give him an advantage in this upcoming engagement.

Thinking over the possible motives to explain the unexpected attack on the small colony, while he considered the comprehensive intel reports he been reading hours earlier. The only thing of any real value the small colony had what made it worth attacking was either the recently found Prothean beacon, that had been accidently unearth during construction of new living district, or it was basic slave raid by Batarian pirate gangs that preyed on human settlements. He hate Batarians with a cold burning passion, the four eyed humanoid species had been causing the Alliance and Humanity problems from the first day their two species meet. He could honestly say Batarians were the only race he hated, that he would kill without any hesitation or doubt. And the Batarians hated him just as badly to; to the point that their government had placed a bounty on his head for 50 thousand credits for his role in Skyillian Blitzs. Not that it mattered anymore with him being stationed on one warship or another, surrounded by fellow marines, making him an extremely difficult target for any brave bounty hunters. After all he had no fear of betrayal from his fellow marines, since no human would willingly sell him out to batarian scrum.

Then he had been part of the retaliatory attack on batarian colony of Tofhan, the base and origins of batarian attacks during Skyillian Blitzs. The attack of Tofhan had been a meat grinder of battle, a death trap, as Alliance marine squad fought their way through heavy defended bunkers. But despite the high loses they suffered, he had pushed on and achieved his objective, before holding his position for over 48 hours under intense enemy counter attack before finally being relieved by reinforcements, providing the alliance brass with a victory stolen from jaws of defeat. But his actions had also pushed into elite status within the Alliance military, as they saw him as a man that got the job done, that would hold the line, as the rest of humanity proclaimed him a war hero, saviour.

So to Humanity and the Alliance he was war hero, to the Batarians he was a butcher, a villain, to the point he was called the Butcher of Tofhan. But he didn't care; he just got the job done, and like Anderson had wisely said, 'One man's hero is another man's villain'. The Alliance command had given him orders, and he had ruthlessly completed them as order. War was war as far as he was concerned, and the Baterians had finally got what their justly deserved. Besides, who cared what a race of slavers and pirates thought?

Naturally the Citadel Council made show of protesting about Humanities over the top reaction against the Batarians as they called it, but the wider galaxy didn't care, as far as they were concerned the Batarians had got what was coming to them after provoking the Alliance military. Humanity had step up that day in eyes of galaxy; they had shown that unlike the Citadel Council they wouldn't ignore such transgressions against them and their citizens. His name would be forever tied to those historical events.

Since that day, Humanity and Batarians had been in state of cold war with each, both fighting through middle parties and covert operations.

A war that the Alliance was winning to the point that the Batarians had closed their embassy on the Citadel in protest, but no one cared, to point shares prices in number of alliance companies jumped in value that day. Most species were naturally happy to see the slavers go and withdraw from Citadel controlled space. After all, it had been simple choice for the politicians on the Citadel Council to make, the enlighten Humans or the archaic Batarians? The answer was never in question. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, as he checked his combat suit's internal combat system, before turning on and off the kinetic barriers to find they were functioning correctly.

The only logical reason to attack the isolated, but highly fortified colony was for procession of the prothean beacon, and the technological secrets locked away inside. The ancient beacon could potentially jump their technological understanding by another century of development, making it highly attractive target for a quick raid. After all there were far more exposed worlds with far larger populations what slavers and pirate gangs could attack outside Alliance controlled space within the Terminus systems, and wouldn't have to fear direct retaliation from Alliance government as result of their actions.

Like most soldiers, he didn't question orders; he just got the job done, but truthfully he questioned these orders, since it just seemed plain stupid handing over the prothean beacon to the Citadel Council then the other races already had such a greater hold on the reigns of the galaxy. The beacon's secrets could have the Alliance to catch up, but instead the Alliance and parliament had decided to play nice and share. Personally he had nothing against other aliens; expect Baterians but that was rational mistrust considering his history with them. He always tried to judge people on case by case bases, but he would always protect Earth and Alliance first even if he did become a Spectre, like Captain Anderson was suggesting.

"5 minutes from drop zone," Joker, their helmsmen announced over the ships internal speakers, as he checked his standard alliance assault rifle, shotgun, and sniper rifle before storing half dozen grenades on his combat belt whilst privately hoping that Spectres were better armed than regular marines, as the rest of the ground team gather around him, just as Captain Anderson appeared from the elevator with the Turian spectre in tow.

Looking over at the man that was closest thing he had to father. "Commander, here are your orders, secure the prothean beacon for extraction, that is your top and only priority," the ship captain boomed over noise of cargo bay, as he nodded in understanding to his mentor and friend.

"What about survivors Captain?" Kaidan Alenko asked, whilst he locked his pistol in place on his right lip.

"They are secondary priority," the Captain confirmed looking over at him making sure he heard him, as he bent down to put combat knife in his boot, as the cargo bays doors slowly opened, revealing the burning colony off in distance, heavy black smoke climbing into air.

"Nihlus, you're coming with us?" Jerkins, their newest crew member asked with awe, as the turian spectre leaped into action, not even sparing the green horn marine a look. Rolling his eyes at the young marines' behaviour, whilst privately hoping he didn't get himself killed or the rest of them due to his stupidity.

"I'll move faster on my own," Nihlus declared before leaping out of Normandy's cargo bay, shotgun already in hand.

"Arrogant son of bitch," he muttered just loud enough to be heard as captain normally stern features cracked at the commander's colourful remarks, as the other two marines by his side grinned at his remark.

"Reminds me of someone I know, Commander," Captain Anderson replied with broad smile before turning serious again. "Nihlus will scout out head, and feed you status reports throughout the mission," as he nodded in understanding. "Good luck Shepard, the mission is yours now commander," patting on shoulder.

Nodding to two soldiers either side of him, who nodded back confirming they were ready, before leaping off the Normandy's landing ramp, his padded boots hitting the soil of Eden prime, kicking up reddish dust as he scanned the surrounding air for hostiles, as he heard two more people drop down behind him, before Normandy's engines suddenly powered up returning the warship to orbit above the planet. "Let's move people," he declared with hint of urgently, the navigation mark popping up on his helmet view screen, the yellow triangle marker marking the last known location of the beacon, and the distance. Running along the nature rocky path to his left, "What are those things?" Jerkins asked as pair of floating air bags floated drift pasted them.

"Air bags, used by archaeologist to help lift heavy objects without using lifting equipment" he offered, "What you thought that was alien?" silencing the new marine, wondering why the guy signed up if he was that jumpy, even on his home planet before his radio activated.

"Shepard there alot of bodies," the Turian operative grimy informed them over the suit's inbuilt communication system.

"Any sign of hostiles?" he asked, as he moved into cover behind a reddish rock as the two supporting marines moved into their own cover.

"Negative, I see the spaceport up a head, I'm going to check it out," before the radios went silent.

Moving forward and sinking down to one knee to scan the area, noticing from cliff face he could see the settlement off in distance, with heavy black smoke rising into sky from the burning buildings, as well noting that the anti aircraft towers looked intact, as well the lack of cover along the cliff race. 'Perfect place for ambushed' he noted just as Alenko vocally express what he was thinking. "This is good place for ambush, keep your guard up."

Silently gesturing with flick of his rifle for Jerkins to advance, the young marine moving slowly out of cover like a scared rabbit, just as a powerful shot echoed out, instantly ending Jerkins life, as spray of blood and brain mattered existed the back of Jerkin head, as his body dropped to ground below, like a dummy that just had it strings cut.

"Sniper!" he shouted whilst pressing himself back into cover as round hit rock face he was sheltering behind, as he swapped to his sniper, the small compact weapon unfolding his hands as the weapon system linked up with his suit's targeting screen. "Alenko, draw him out," he ordered, as the marine leaped from his position whilst reinforcing his kinetic barriers with biotic barrier just as shot went out revealing the sniper position from muzzle flash before ducking back behind a large tree.

'I got him now,' he smirked with deadly intent as he looked down the scope of his sniper, just waiting for their attacker to build up the courage peep out of cover again, as the crosshairs of his scope lined up on the position he excepted the sniper's head to appear, his breathing naturally slowing as he took controlled breaths, intentionally trying slow his heart rate, before suddenly firing at flash of movement, as he watched a humanoid shape body drop to the ground. Seeing no one trying to move the body, he looked down at Alenko indicating for the solider to move up, whilst he covered him with his sniper rifle, however he suddenly saw another flash of light on metal, catching on his scope, giving way the target position he smoothly pulled the trigger as the crosshair centred on the blue helmet of his foe, before dropping the second target with single shot through plastic of the combat helmet, as broken shards of plastic mixed with blue blood.

"Nice shot commander," Alenko declared, panting heavily, from behind the same tree the first sniper had hidden behind. "Clear commander!" as he shouldered the sniper rifle, and swapping back to his avenger assault rifle.

He could of end the engagement much quicker if he had simply use his biotic abilities to close the distance with a biotic charge, but he wanted to save his energy until later, since he sensed this was just the beginning of the fight. Moving out of cover, before kneeling down besides the fallen solider and receiving Jenkins bloody dog tags, he already knew the critical mistake Jenkins had made that had cost him his life. The young marine had hesitated, taking far too long to move giving the sniper time to line up a killing shot, before he saw a second fatal mistake. Looking up in direction of Alenko "Jenkins forgot to maintain his kinetic barriers generator properly, that's how sniper passed his kinetic barriers so easily," as the sentinel shock his head in disapproval at the rocky mistake as he moved up path besides him, before leap frogging into next position.

"Searchsearch them and find out who we're fighting," He ordered as he looked down the pass, watching for any hostiles.

"Baterians!" Alenko spat with anger, as he looked back over his shoulder recognising the four-eye species he hated with passion as his remaining squad mate removed the second dead combatants helmet to reveal a Turian with small hole between his eyes.

"Mercenary group," he concluded quickly, before looking back at the body. "Any unique identifying markings or clues on them that we can use to identify them?"

"Negative commander," the tested marine stated, "What should we do about Jenkins body?" As he turned to attention back towards the path.

"Leave it," he said firmly, already moving out of cover and up the valley toward the distance dig site, noticing smoke in air. "Come on we got to moved," he encouraged, knowing the pair of snipers had slowed them down long enough already, as the two alliance marines rapidly moved through the area, sweeping it for any hostiles or traps, as the distance on the navigation marker slowly, but steadily decreased, as they saw the first supply grates and destroyed digging equipment.

Then he heard it, the characteristic trade mark sound of alliance assault rifle firing in rapid burst, as his motion senor picked up movement and the friendly foe tag changing it to yellow on his heads up display indicating a possible friendly.

He quickly looked over to Alenko who nodded his head in understanding as the pair of them moved behind cover, as they picked out their own fields of fire to over their primitive kill zone, Looking down his AR scope as the yellow dote rapidly moved towards them, as the gunfire got louder as the female alliance soldier in white armour rushed around the corner towards them, rounds bouncing offer her kinetic barriers, even as several explosion went off behind her.

Wasting no time he opened fire at the first hostile that came around the corner, providing the marine with cover fire as his shots ripped through mercenary's kinetic barriers, and successfully piecing the protective armour beneath, as the female marine took cover next to him, before quickly opening fire with her own avenger assault rifle, as Alenko added his own fire to the mix, whilst hacking the enemy combat systems as intense fire fight erupted between two sides.

Fortunately for them, they had the high ground and better fire positions as he tossed a frag grenade into the mix, before firing at pair of feeing attacker in their exposed backs as the grenade went off, effectively killing the pair.

"Alenko, pull them out of cover," he shouted over to the other biotic as he fire again into the unknown Mercenaries advancing on them as another attacker was pulled out of cover as dark energy engulfed him, before the alliance marine next to him put the Merc down with burst of fire. The fire fight lasted another five minutes as they slowly wore the mercs down with their combine power, before the mercenaries started to withdraw back towards the dig site.

Swapping in favour to his shotgun, "Advance marines!" he shouted out over the sounds of battle, as he moved out of his position and fired on retreating hostiles, even as he started to gather dark biotic energy around him, "Don't give them time to reground!" as he unleashed his destructive biotic charge, flashing across the short distance and smashing forcefully into a stun mercenary, before firing point blank range with his shotgun, killing with single brutal shot to his adversary's gut, before firing again into the confused panicking enemy ranks as they realized he was vanguard class biotic, his shotgun barking viciously as he killed three more, in quick ruthless succession. Even as his squad mates moved up in support, adding to the devastating barrage of fire as he unleashed another biotic charged, as he 'jumped' across the battle field once again, as he suddenly franked the enemy by appearing abruptly in their path of retreat.

A cold smile appeared on his features, as he fired again point blank range with his shotgun into man's helmet, his shotgun so close the kinetic barriers were useless as the mercenary head exposed under the force of the shot, sending bone and brain matter flying.

This was how he liked to fight, shock and awe, not giving the enemy time to think, to act as he jumped around them like a circling predator, as two more mercenaries dropped dead from the marines combined assault, as some stray shots landed on his barriers as the panicking enemy started to recover their wits, as harsh realization dawned on the hired guns that they were trapped between the two small but deadly alliance forces, without any effective cover, as his shotgun barked again, claiming another life in this small massacre.

A mercenary moved to surrender, as the merc throw his gun to the floor but he didn't give him a chance as his shotgun charmed another life before suddenly overheating in his hands, as the inbuilt safe guards activated causing his shotgun seized up and jam as he saw out of corner of his eye the reason why. Discarding his shotgun as he instinctively jumped next to the mercenary engineer responsible for hacking his gun and quickly snapped the batarian hackers neck with brutal twisted of his armoured hands, even as he grabbed another shotgun off the dead mercenary's backside, before firing again at closest target.

Normandy CIC

"Status reported," Captain Anderson barked whilst looking around the CIC, his handpicked crew working flawlessly at their stations, their hands dancing across the controls panels, as he gave a satisfied nod. Turning his attention back to the main view screen, he carefully watched the old Alliance dreadnought hover above Eden prime, keeping prefect position above the planet side colony.

"Hostile dreadnought still holding position above Eden Prime, sir," Navigations officer Pressy reported quickly, and efficiently. "However radio traffic groundside has increased captain, it seems their encountering some type of resistance on the planet," as a he noticed the smirked on Pressy's features.

Feeling a surge of hope that his second in commander was still alive, still fighting on the planet surface. "Any word from the ground team, any word from Shepard?" he asked the coms officer.

"Negative sir, the enemy is still jamming communications from the planet, all we can tell is their meeting resistance," the coms officer replied from her work station.

Moving back up to his original position on bridge, so he was standing behind Normandy's pilot, Joker. Joker like his nickname suggested was a goof ball, a joker, but he was best dam pilot in the fleet despite this. "Move us into position behind that dreadnought Joker, I want the Normandy to be in position to fire on their engines at moments noticed," he ordered firmly before looking over at the weapons officer, who was one of the newest members of the crew. "Ensign Smith, I want everything you can mutter to hit their engines, we can't risk them escaping with the beacon."

"Sir, if we fire our position will be exposed, we can't go against that dreadnought in head to head battle sir, it's just too powerful!" the young naval officer protested.

"I aware of that, Ensign," he snapped back at the man, as Normandy's combat systems picked up several ground assault gunships launched from the dreadnought's lower hanger bay, escorting a pair of heavy armoured shuttles to the planet surface.

"Dam," Joker stated, summing up his own feelings at the display of fire power. "Should we try to warn the commander?" the pilot asked.

"Negative Joker, we can't risk exposing our position, nor do we know for certain that our message will even reach the commander. We will just have to trust that John can handle himself," he said firmly, as he watched the gunships speeding towards the surface. "He's been in touchier spots."

Mass Effect

Walking silently up to one of still moving mercenary soldiers, who appeared to be human based on the armour configuration, and was promptly attempting to surrender as he smoothly swapped to his pistol and fired a three round burst ruthlessly executing the injured enemy combatant.

"Report!" he barked, as he holstered his weapon, his eyes scanning the battlefield.

"32 enemy KIA commander, not counting the first two we encaged." Alenko reported, as he stepped up to him.

Turning to examine the unknown alliance marine, who was looking back at him in a state of shock, "Name and rank soldier," he barked, causing the solider to give him a crisp salute on reflexes.

"Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 2 – 12 sir!" she barked back, her military training kicking in, as Alenko started searching the bodies.

"Where's the rest your squad?" he asked, wanting to try to link up and coordinate with remaining forces planet side.

"Dead sir," she offered. "We were patrolling the perimeter when the attack hit, we tried to pull back to dig site but the position was already over run. Realizing that, and being unable to reach the command post on the coms, I and my remaining squad went to activate the emergency distress beacon at edge of town, and fortunately ran into other saviours having the same idea. However a group of mercenary soldiers was already there attempting to destroy it. We managed to take the position and repair the transmitter, and hold it long enough send off a distress call, however enemy gunships quickly turned. I've been fighting for my life every since, then I saw ship, and headed this way and ran into you, you know the rest," she explained quickly. "I'm only one left sir."

Nodding his head in understanding, whilst deciding to keep the solider with them so she wouldn't break down soon has the shock worn off of losing her entire squad, and saviour guilt kicked in. "Your coming with us Williams, you can led us to the dig site," he ordered. "Check your gear; and search the dead for any supplies you need."

"Yes sir," Williams barked, before she turned around on the spot. 'Nice ass' he noted through the armour, as he tried to get hold Nihlus, but found the communication were jammed somehow.

'Just great' he mentally groaned before picking up some extra grenades, prior to spotting a javelin missile launcher, along with several missiles bring a rare smile to his face at finding a heavy weapon, whilst wondering why it was deployed against them, before strapping the launcher over his armoured shoulder.

"Found anything?" he asked the pair.

"Just the usual, nothing special," Alenko offered.

"Same," Williams declared, as she moved to join them.

"Time to move then people," he declared, as he swapped back to his assault rifle, before looking at newest addition to his squad. "Williams take point," putting Eden Prime's resident soldier upfront to guide them to the dig site.

Following behind Williams whilst Alenko took the rear guard position 'Is she any relation to General Williams? The man who surrendered to the Turians during First Contact War?' he pondered, before deciding it could wait until they were back abroad the Normandy as they run past several burning white prefabricated cabins before suddenly stopping.

Noticing what had caught William's attention, he saw several bodies lined up in role, in a mixture of civilian and military clothing along with women in blood stained white lab coat pressed up again side of cabin, with spatter marks along the side of the cabin, along with a small hole. Quickly counting the number of bullet holes, and comparing to number of bodies, "Executed," he noted grimly, as he noticed their bounded hands. Looking at the grim faces of his squad mates, he saw anger in their eyes, as Williams stared down at the dead marine. "Let's keep moving people, there is nothing we can do here," he voiced, as he took deliberately pointed, forcing the two marines to moved otherwise they be left behind. Finally arriving at the burning dig site, his eyes immediately jumped to the large pile of bodies dumped carelessly to one side, as his trained eyes picked out the bodies of fallen marines, and buttered scientist alike, as blood gathered beneath the pile.

Turning his attention back to dig site, the stone pillars were marked with signs of weapons fire and scorched marks from high explosives, with over turned burning machines shattered around the site.

"Williams, any idea where the beacon is?" he asked, wondering if the intel was wrong, or if the mercenaries had already extracted the beacon.

"I don't know sir," she replied, whilst doing her best to ignore the pile of dead bodies.

"Alenko, check the research cabins, look for anything on the beacon, where they might have moved it," sending the sentinel off to dig through the databases, as he once again looked around at the ruins, before hearing the familiar sound of gunships rapidly approaching.

Remembering William's earlier words, "Take cover!" he roared even as he dived behind a stone pillar just as missiles were fire into the dig site, followed by the gattling guns suddenly opening fire in deathly barrage, as explosions went off around him, as two gunship swooped over head.

"Williams, you ok?" he asked, looking around for the soldier that had been standing next to him moments earlier, as his kinetic barriers steadily recharged.

"Fine sir, maybe a broken rib," she replied as another series of rockets were fired into dig site, hitting the weaken stone pillar he was hiding behind causing him to roll away as dust and rumble was thrown into air, before the pillar suddenly came crushing down, covering the dig site in veil of dust.

"You alive Alenko?" he asked, as he pulled the salvaged heavy weapon off his shoulder and activating the missile launcher, as he heard the gunships coming around for another attack run.

"There deploying troops!" Alenko warmed, as he looked out cover to see two gunship hovering, as armour troops abseiled down on ropes to join the battle, before being force duck back into cover again as the gunship automatic chain guns opened fired at him pinning him down begin cover.

Realizing that there was no way he could take the shot, he looked over to newest member of team, his discussion already made, "Williams take the shot, Alenko, see you can hack the gunship kinetic barriers or weapons," he declared, throwing the missile launcher across to the marine hiding behind some heavy lifting equipment. Immediately swapping back to his assault rifle, he fired a quick burst into the enemy ranks, to keep the mercenaries attention firmly fixed on him, giving Williams critical time to get a shot. Just as first gunship was about to open fire, a puff of smoke erupted from launcher as the missile took flight, the small missile darting through the smoke filled air, followed swiftly by loud bang as missile hit its target. Looking out cover to see the first gunship had been turned into burning wreckage, as super heated metal fragments came raining down upon the advancing enemy below, like massive shot gun blast as he ducked back into cover. "Good shot Williams. Now take down the second one," before firing on the disorganised, shocked troops, as he ruthless cut down two more.

"Sir! The beacon was transported to the spaceport, less than hour ago," Alenko hastily reported, gunfire coming over the radio.

As another missile hastily took to the sky, the gunship taking evasive action as the missile chipped the gunship wing, triggering the remaining missiles, causing it to quickly spin out of control, and unfortunately fall straight towards him, as the pilot fought to keep control of the craft.

Leaping out of cover, as rounds bounced off his protective barriers before he was thrown in air as the gunship exploded behind him, slamming into side of broken stone pillar, like a child throwing it's toy.

Looking up at the sky, as his ears ringed, as he tried to get control of his overwhelmed senses as he pushed the pain to one aside.

His right hand side aching as he forced himself to his feet, as realized that he no longer had his assault fire with, causing him to grab his fallen sniper rifle and moved into cover behind small grate. 'I need a pay rise.'

Looking down his high powered scope before firing at the first exposed target, the high power round tearing through the enemy's protective barriers, before piecing his targets' armoured combat suit, dropping the target to the ground, before quickly firing again at another target that tried to help the fallen combatant he just shot, as blood erupted from mercenary's helmet. The fire fight last another couple minutes before the desperate enemy combatants started withdrawing along the path back to the spaceport, with the three of them following behind them, continuing to encaged the enemy every step of their retreated until the last one fell.

"Good job people!" he announced as his side protested in pain. "Everyone alright?" as he dosed himself with some pain meds.

"Fine, just bit winded," Alenko voiced.

"Just some bruises here," William expressed.

"Good, let's get moving," as he forced himself forward just as coms came back online. "Shepard, are you still alive?" Nilius asked easily.

"Fine, but encountering heavy resistance mercenary's forces," he replied evenly, stopping on path. "The beacon was transported to the spaceport just over an hour ago, do you copy?" updating the alone Turian on the primary objective status.

"Acknowledged commander, on route to space port," the Turian replied, before cutting the coms.

"Who's that?" Williams asked.

"Council Spectre sent to help oversee the transportation of the beacon," Shepard countered.

"Can he be trusted?" Williams pressed.

"He can be trusted to do his job," he answered, not truly knowing where the Turian loyalties lay, as the pain meds started to kick in. "Come on, we need to get moving," ending the uncomfortable discussion. Heading off again in direction of the distinct spaceport, after several minutes they encounter the first rural structures that looked like small houses, just outside the limits of the spaceport, as something moved in corner of his eye.

"Sir, I saw movement in that window," Williams declared as he shifted, taking point.

"Alliance Marines!" Shepard declared, "Show yourself!"

Advancing on the structure, his trained eyes picking up on movement in the windows, gesturing with flick of his head for Williams to cover the rear as Alenko advance to door control panel, his Omi Tool activating as the sentinel started hacking the door controls.

"Don't shot, we're unarmed," a scared male voice declared as the door opened his hands above his head dress in civilian clothing, causing Alenko to back away from the door as another figure appeared behind him, her own hands high above her head, as he noticed the military grade pistols on their hips as he allowed himself to relaxed, before lowering his weapon.

"Commander Shepard, Alliance military," he declared formally, stepping forward. "Can either of you tell me what happened here?"

The man spoke up first, "We were at the market when the attack hit, shuttles suddenly came rushing down out of the sky followed by gunships. At first we thought it was Alliance running some type of combat drill, but suddenly they opened fire on us," the male expressed, fear lacing his voice. "However none of the colony's defence systems activated, and the coms suddenly shut gun, it was like all the systems went dark at once, before the power sudden cut out as well."

"We just ran, hoping to get out of settlement, as the first troops were deployed," the lady added as Williams gave them an angry look, which made it clear what she thought of the pair of them

"Inside man," he voiced grimly, whilst looking over at his team who nodded in agreement to his assessment before turning his attention back to the civilians. "Is there anything else you can tell me? Have you seen the beacon?"

"Yea, that was transported through here less than hour an hour ago, in the direction of the spaceport" male voiced, "I think the mercenary's are Blue Suns."

"The Mercenary group?" he asked, trying to remember more about the group.

"Yea," the male voiced with a sharp nod before looking over at his friend, before looking back at him. "I recognised one of them. I did some work with them couple years ago out of Omega, before coming here to settle down. I got fed up of dodging bullets, and ended up meeting Mary-Jane here."

Deciding to push on with his mission, now he had new Intel "You two stay, and keep out of trouble," he said sternly, giving them serious look.

"Cole," the women said nervously, addressing the male as he was just about to walk away, "We should tell them about the stuff."

"Jane stay quiet," Cole snapped quickly, looking over at Jane in panic.

"What stuff," he asked sharply, turning around, whilst giving Cole a warning look who sighed, cracking up under his stern glaze.

"A couple guys out of the space port were running a small smuggling operation, small arms, some drugs," Cole explained quickly. "Nothing serious."

'Just great more paper work,' he noted as he looked at the pair, trying to decide what to do with them. "Like the pair of military grade pistols you have on your hips?" he asked innocently adding pressure to the pair to come clean.

"Yea," Jane confirmed, Cole giving her sharp look. "Jesus Jane, are you trying to get us thrown in prison?" Cole spat, as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place.

"That was how you knew they were Blue Suns, you were smuggler, a weapons dealer," he stated, stepping into the male personal space. "And still are, why else would you have new military gear."

"What I just found this, took it from body," the man spat, nervously, as his instincts screamed liar.

"Don't lie to me!" he threatened, stepping forward closing the distance between them, as the two civilians backed up against the wall. "Tell me everything now!"

"Alright, the storage units out back were drop point off, we allowed the guys at spaceport to use our sheds for small housing fee," Code blurted out in a panic, his hands gesturing to sheds.

"Alenko, Williams, search them for anything we can use!" he barked, sending the two marines to search for much need supplies before turning his attention back to two scared smugglers.

"Tell me everything now!"

Normandy

"Shepard do you read me?" Captain Anderson asked, hoping that the marine was still alive on the planet surface after seeing the gunships deployed over half hour earlier.

"Acknowledged, but encountering stiff resistance," as burst of gun fire came over the radio connection. "The enemy is withdrawing along the tam line with the beacon in their procession," as another burst of intense gunfire filled the CIC, as all the operational officers eagerly listen in. "Jenkins is dead sir, a sniper got him," as more gunfire, followed by distinctive barked of shotgun being fired came over the radio, as his heart plummeted at the news of lose of young soldier.

"Acknowledged," he said grimy, as news spread through the ranks at the lost of one of their crew members. "Status?"

"Currently fighting our way through spaceport security centre," as loud bang went off in back ground. "Nilius is franking them, trying to cut them off from their shuttles. It's an inside job sir; they had inside help to bypass the colony's defences. I believe they are Blue Sons sir," the N7 explained as another explosion followed. "Williams cover me," as another burst of gunfire followed. 'Who is Williams?' He asked himself, as he continued to listen in to the intense fire fight.

"Fuck! Their using civilians as shields," Shepard exclaimed over the radio.

"Remember the beacon is your top priority," Anderson stressed, hoping to cover Shepard ass from a military tribune if civilians were accidentally killed in crossfire.

"Understood, Sir," Shepard replied. "I want headshots only people! Alenko, pull them out of cover!" before the com filled with static.

"What happen?" he barked to nearest communications officer who jumped back into action. "Enemy is jamming communications again sir."

"Sir, the dreadnought is powering up its weapons," Joker exclaimed in panic, "Somehow they know were here!"

"Open fire, all weapons," He barked, as missile tubes suddenly opened fire follow by main cannon, causing the Normandy to shake under the recoil, as the warship leaped into action, taking on warship 5 times her size and weight.

Eden Prime – Spaceport Security Centre.

"Fuck we lost coms again," Shepard bark over the radio, as he ducked back into cover behind a wall, before opening fire again down the corridor at expose mercenary as they pushed to the CIC (combat control centre), the fighting intensifying as the mercs drew more desperate under their advance. Swapping back to his sniper rifle, he gathered dark biotic energy in his body, before unleashing a powerful biotic stasis field at his chosen target, forcefully holding the mercenary in position as he looked down the scope of his sniper rifle, before smoothly pulling the trigger, causing his target's head exploded from high speed sniper round, covering the terrified human hostage with blood, bone and brain matter, before Alenko pulled the stunned hostage out of way with a biotic pull, pulling the horrified hostage to safety of their own lines.

"Stay down," Alenko stated, moving the hostage to one side, before firing with his rifle.

"Push people," he shouted as he fired another round from his sniper, achieving another head shot.

Mass Effect

'Dam, he's good," she noted with sense of awe as the N7 continued to killed with devastating accuracy and efficiently only achieved from years of drilling and combat experience, before fire again. Advancing down the corridor after the retreating mercenaries as a high power shot went flying over her shoulder plate downing her chosen target, causing her to instinctively pressed her up against the wall. "Fuck, warn me next time you do that!" she shouted, just as another round flew past her, claiming another mercenary. Before Alenko was opposite her, unleashing a burst with his own assault rifle, as grenade bounced at their feet, fear gripping her.

"Move!" she cried, diving backwards out of the blast zone, as the Alenko raised a hasty erected a biotic barrier to protect them just before the explosive wave of energy resister on her armour, knocking her forcefully to the ground, sending her head spinning.

"Get up Williams," a strong male voice barked. "That's a fucking order!"

"Yes sir," she replied automatically from years of drilling, trying to get back to her feet.

Mass Effect

Looking down at the stunned marine he was just starting to like before firing again with his sniper, dropping another target what was stupid enough to expose himself, before pulling the trigger again at the next target as he pushed forward down the corridors, stepping over the dead bodies as he went, before moving into spaceport security office with the injured Alenko in tow, just to encounter trio of mercenaries holding weapons to group of hostages in front of them.

"Drop your weapons! Or we kill the hostages human," the Batarian mercenary spat, pressing his gun forcefully against mans neck, whilst his companions copied their leader's actions, noticing one was Turian, the other was human.

Intentionally smiling, knowing that it would unnerve them, but discarded his sniper rifle any as plan quickly formed in his mind. "I got orders, civilians are secondary concern, but I'll offer you a chance to surrender," he informed even as he started to gather biotic energy, even as his smile turned cruel, whilst he saw William's yellow dot move up behind him.

"I'm not fucking kidding human!" the four-eyed alien snarled, his four eyes blinking, as the female hostage started to cry, tear flowing down her red cheeks.

"Neither am I, do you know how many Batarians I've killed?" he asked confidently, as his muscle tensed, as he felt his biotic amp starting to heat up as he held the dark energy inside him. "You either surrender or die your choice."

"I don't want to die!" the human mercenary exclaimed, pushing the hostage away from him, causing much need distraction as he unleashed the biotic energy gather within as two powerful biotic stasis fields engulfed the two remaining mercenaries and their hostages in a bubble of energy, forcefully holding them in place, to point not even their trigger fingers could moved.

Stepping forward, as he lazily reached for his pistol on his lip, he saw the fear spread in the Batarians eyes, as he lifted his pistol before firing two quick shots, executing the hostage takers, their blood painting the wall behind them Releasing the biotic stasis fields the two dead hostage bodies dropped to ground, as their hostage quickly feeing to join the other, hiding behind Alenko.

Turning his attention to remaining hostage taker, "Don't shot I surrender!" the human mercenary shouted again, his hands high in the air, as the hostages started to cried, the other free hostages moving to comfort one another.

"Williams, take care of the hostages. Alenko, tie him up police him for any hidden weapons," he ordered as the two alliance marines leaped to complete their individual assigned tasks.

"He's clean sir," Alenko declared, stepping away from the hired gun.

"Good. Alenko try to override the tam lock down, and activate any intact defences," he instructed, before turning his attention back to the scared prisoner who trying to shuffle away from him.

Stepping closer, he kneel down to face the man, his armoured hand cupping the man's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. The mercenary looked barely older to be a teen, as he examined the man patch work armour. "Now me and you are going to have a little chat, if you tell me what I want to know, you'll live, you understand?" he asked coldly, wanting to confirm his earlier information, as well gather more critical Intel.

"Yes," the human mercenary replied.

"Good, let's start with who you work for," he asked, as Williams silently watched him from across the room.

End of Chapter