Mass Effect: Succession Ch. 4

MASS EFFECT: SUCCESSION

CHAPTER 4

Normandy SR-2: Deck 2, Combat Information Center; Viper Nebula, Bahak System

     "The Batarian Hegemony considers any presence of Alliance military vessels in batarian space as hostile," EDI began. "The Normandy SR-2, while an independent vessel, strongly resembles the Normandy SR-1, an Alliance ship. Use of stealth systems is highly recommended."
     "You get that, Joker?" Shepard asked the pilot.
     "I hear you, mom," Joker replied as he activated the stealth systems. "Take a cookie from the jar, but don't let dad see me." He looked up at the Commander. "Got it."
     Shepard grinned as he slipped on the N7 helmet, feeling the seals purging and reengaging with a familiar hiss. "Glad to see your sense of humor's still in check."
     A small, rust-colored planet came into view through the Normandy's viewport.
     "Well, that's Aratoht," Joker said, sighing deeply. "Looking just like a frosted turian cocoa-sphere."
     "That's our specialty back on Palaven," Garrus chortled gleefully. "You won't find better cocoa-spheres in the galaxy."
     Shepard shook his head at the pair. "EDI, what can you tell me about the planet?"
     The Normandy's AI materialized beside Joker. "Aratoht was originally in contestation between the humans and the batarians for colonization. The planet's air pressure and oxygen content were too low for large-scale human habitation, ending a year-long political battle with the batarians and the Citadel Council's Committee on Habitable Worlds."
    "Go on," Shepard told her.
     "The batarians have been colonizing Aratoht's polar regions, where the heavy rainfall makes the heat manageable. Data on the colony itself is restricted by the Hegemony's Department of Information Control, but a few--"
     "Uh, hate to break the history lesson, Commander," Joker interrupted. "But we're about ETA ten minutes from the drop zone. Might want to, you know, get prepped for landing and all that jazz."
     "Roger that." Shepard and Garrus made their way out of the cockpit and towards the elevator.
     "A solo mission, huh?" Garrus piped up. "That's not the Shepard I know."
     They entered the elevator and began their descent to Deck 5. Shepard paced about.
     "I guess it's not. But it's got to be done."
     "No argument there, Commander." The turian watched him closely. "Just give the word though, and we'll blast through and--"
     "That's not going to happen. This mission has to be done alone. If they see a team of armed combatants busting in, they'll kill the hostage."
     Garrus cleared his throat. "Roger that, Commander."

Deck 5, Hangar

     As the elevator ceased its descent, Shepard and Garrus stepped out into the hangar bay.
     Most of the squad was there, save for Zaeed and Jack. Thane informed Shepard that the two had a little too much to drink at one of the clubs; he and Grunt had to drag them out, though Jack put up a destructive biotic fight in her drunken stupor.
     Fortunately, Thane knew a few tricks to… suppress targets without the need to kill.
     "She's going to have a rather agonizing tribulation in her head when she wakes up," he said.
     "We all wish you the best of luck on this mission, Commander," Miranda announced.
     "Yes. Solo mission. Very exciting. Reminds me of certain STG operation in Exodus Cluster…"
     "I doubt there will be anything valuable to steal in a batarian prison, but you never know…" Kasumi told Shepard, that familiar smile radiating from beneath her cowl.
     "Give 'em hell, Commander," Jacob added.
     "Shepard-Commander. We advise discretion within hostile territory. Recommend use of M-29 Incisor for swift pacification."
     "Good luck, Shepard."
     Tali embraced him. "You better come back safe, bosh'tet."
     Shepard climbed into the waiting UT-47 Kodiak drop shuttle, peering back at the team he was leaving behind. "Thank you, all of you. Hopefully this mission will be a simple in-and-out break-in." He drew the M-76 Revenant machine gun and held it idly by his side. "Miranda, tell Joker to keep the Normandy a safe distance from Aratoht. I want complete comm silence for this mission. I'll radio when I need extraction. Clear?"
     "Understood, Commander."
     The shuttle doors closed as the squad vacated the area. Normandy's large hangar doors dropped, revealing an isolated Aratoht in the distance. The small thrusters beneath the "Combat Cockroach," as Jacob liked to call it, assisted in maneuvering the shuttle out and away from the ship, towards Shepard's destination.
     Garrus and Tali watched the shuttle depart from the observational window on Deck 4. Tali's head lowered slightly, and Garrus placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "Is our Chief Engineer going to make it?"
     "Not if our Gunnery Officer keeps pestering her."
     Garrus chuckled. "He's going to be fine, trust me. I sincerely doubt a bunch of ragtag batarian prison guards are going to take Commander Shepard down." He adjusted his targeting visor as he entered the lift. "I've got some calibrations to do."
     "You always have calibrations to do, Garrus," Tali muttered. She moved away from the window and returned to her post monitoring the Normandy's Drive Core.
     Come back soon, Commander.