Post by Maelstrom on Jan 19, 2014 13:49:58 GMT -6
Maelstrom purposely let his feet fly out from under him, as he slid into cover behind a sturdy-looking crate. Gunfire was flying all around him, as the Eclipse mercenary band he was leading met head-on with the last half-dozen Cerberus personnel and security mechs manning the base. Behind his helmet, completely black save for one-way decals of a single eye with a red iris and an eerie toothy-smile, he grinned at how well the battle was going.
The Vengeance and Eclipse drop-ships managed to come in undetected, using a nearby electrical storm as cover. In the first minute of combat, they had destroyed or disabled every fighter and anti-air emplacement on the small planetside base. Communications were jammed too.
The base's security forces put up a good fight at first, managing to hold the intruders to the landing platform. As the storm moved in and visibility decreased, though, the mercs began to take the field. They were soon inside the base.
How fortunate I am that Cerberus is willing to offend just about everyone, he thought to himself. Had the organization not seen fit to secure a piece of tech that Eclipse worked for months to obtain, he doubted the organization would have seen fit to aid him in raiding so dangerous a foe. Given the Blue Suns' success, though, and how public the offer was when Maelstrom made it, in the middle of a meeting with Aria and half a dozen other gang leaders, they were forced between looking weak or striking back.
And I'm even getting paid for leading them to their payback, he thought with amusement.
Of the almost three dozen Eclipse sent with him on the mission, only two were killed so far, with almost the entire base taken. There were another half a dozen or so with injuries severe enough to have them sitting out the rest of the fight. He considered it more than fair trade for the over forty Cerberus personnel they put down, though. Twelve of them himself. And not just soldiers, but their scientists, foolish enough to pick up weapons to try to stave off the mercs.
This was the final room, though. The most secure lab in the base. It was the location of the station's computer core. Four security officers were taking cover behind this item piled up around the door, and the two security mechs were following suit. The narrow corridor, which turned sharply just a dozen yards behind him, though, greatly nullified the advantage of numbers the he and his allies now held.
Maelstrom popped up, aiming his submachine gun at a security mech and pulling the trigger. The gun made a sound like an electrical discharge, and a wisp of smoke snaked out of the barrel. He ducked back into cover just in time for a volley of weapons fire to pass overhead.
Cursing, he slapped the butt of the weapon with his hand. He pulled the trigger, but it seemed stuck in place. Yelling, he jumped up and hurled the weapon at the security mech, throwing in a biotic push for extra force. Both the defective weapon and the robot's head exploded into a hail of metal shrapnel, which caught one of the human men in the face, knocking him out of the fight.
He hated the weapons he was using. They were specialty models, as near as he could tell. Very advanced but also very temperamental. Meant to be used for a few missions and then replaced. The sort of thing Cerberus could afford for a highly-mobile strike team like the one he was assigned to when he stole Emily and the Vengeance. They were growing increasingly troublesome. He needed something new.
Not in the mood to deal with the faulty weapons any more, he stood up from cover and, grinding his teeth, thrust both hands forward. The table behind which two of the security forces were hiding shot back at incredible speed, pinning the men behind it. The crash echoed out of the lab and down the hall when the table impacted the far wall. The men fell dead over the now-mangled piece of metal.
The last of the men broke from cover and was gunned down by the former asari commando in charge of the Eclipse mercs he was leading. The final mech's circuits were fried by the salarian tech who served as her lieutenant. He thought he sensed something romantic between them, but he did not truly care.
The asari commando started down the hall like she was the lead, but Maelstrom took a couple quick steps to get ahead of her, making sure everyone knew this was still his mission. They were just support.
"One life sign remaining," Emily broke into his comms, having hacked their internal sensors early on in the fight. They were a relatively low-security system, designed to keep track of employees and experiments, not enemy incursions.
Maelstrom drew his assault rifle. It froze halfway between compact mode and operational, leaving the safety active. He bared his teeth in frustration, tossing the weapon aside. Instead, he brought up his fists, deciding to use his biotics if he ran into trouble.
Inside the room he found no active threats. A mech fastened to the table, hooked up to a dozen cables. A scientist cowering in the corner. And expended thermal clips. A lot of blood.
"Have everyone report back to their unit commanders," the asari commando at his heels ordered the mercs behind her. "Designate this room off-limits."
The salarian tech went immediately to the computer core, beginning his download of all salvageable files. Based on his last mission, with the Blue Suns, he knew that most of the files would have been wiped clean, a security protocol with the aim of protecting Cerberus' interests. Still, no system was perfect, and a good tech could sometimes get a wealth of information off a supposedly-purged drive.
"Please... please," the scientist sobbed. "I'll do anything. Anything."
Maelstrom looked around the room again. Mounted on the wall next to the scientist were a collection of guns which seemed vaguely familiar to him. After a moment's thought, he realized where he saw them before. They resembled geth weaponry, though obviously modified with human upgrades. He smiled. Though the contract stated Eclipse was free to loot the station as they pleased, he knew that for his part in the battle, neither of the two mercs with him would begrudge him his own spoils... particularly given that they might have to fight him if they tried. The thought of gunning down Cerberus personnel with their own advanced weapons appealed to him. He put the assault rifle in the same place as his old rifle, and as a second thought grabbed the sniper rifle too. Finally he retrieved the submachine gun, testing its weight in his hand. Perfect.
Maelstrom found a small datapad on the ground near the weapons. Picking it up, he found their design specs. He instantly activated his omnitool and downloaded the information to Emily.
"These are specs for the weapons you just procured," she replied. "A brief analysis suggests that while based on geth technology, most of the components are readily obtained at supply stores throughout citadel space. This would make the model far more useful as a field weapon for extended missions than a weapon based entirely on custom parts."
He nodded.
"This is as good a place as any for the nuke," the asari appraised.
Maelstrom smiled, looking forward to watching from orbit as this place became a mushroom cloud.
"Threat level high. Probability of surviving a nuclear detonation not mathematically significantly greater than zero," the mech on the table said. "We would appreciate being evacuated from this location prior to the detonation of any nuclear device."
Both mercs drew their weapons, but Maelstrom raised a hand to signal that they stay their fire, as he turned to face the subject. It was gunmetal grey. He was surprised that he had not realized beforehand what the unit was, as it gazed up at him with a single, shining eye.
"Identify yourself," he ordered.
"We are geth," the unit replied.
"What are you doing?" the asari asked.
"The geth attacked the Citadel. Ended hundreds of human lives. Why should I get you out of here?" Maelstrom asked, feeling a pang of pity for any Cerberus test subject.
"The Heretics attacked the Citadel. They no longer share consensus with the geth. They operate on their own, apart from us. Separate. They decided to follow Nazara, the old machine you knew as Sovereign," the geth explained, plates on its face shifting to give it the appearance of having eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"Based on the information stored in my databases, it is exceedingly rare for an AI to lie under any circumstances, Maelstrom," Emily offered. He wondered if her personality programming went as far as to simulate sympathy for another artificial construct. Then again, the geth's claims corresponded with rumors he had heard recently. That there was a geth that worked with Shepard. That not all of them were the enemies of humanity.
"If the Heretics are the ones who caused all the trouble and you aren't with them, what are you doing beyond the Veil?" Maelstrom asked.
"This unit and several others like it were designed as unique platforms to study the impact of the Heretics' actions on the galaxy. This unit was designed to monitor the reactions of the human organization known as Cerberus," the geth explained.
The asari laughed. "Looks like they were monitoring you instead."
"Yes," the geth replied. "This unit successfully accessed Cerberus data files at a separate facility, however, an unexpected security program infiltrated this platform. By the time we were able to overcome it, Ceberus had apprehended this unit."
"Want me to put it down?" the asari asked Maelstrom.
"No!" the salarian said. "Far more valuable for study. We could upgrade our own mechs significantly by studying its programming."
"I've got a better idea," Maelstrom said. Speaking quietly to the geth as he started undoing the restraints, he said, "If you try anything, I'll deactivate this platform. Permanently." Turning back to the mercs, he said, "The geth will be going back to its people so we don't end up with the geth staring a another war with the galaxy to get at Eclipse."
"A war?" the salarian laughed. "They haven't come for this unit. Obviously, they don't know where it is."
"Long range communications are disabled," the geth replied. "The others are unaware of my location. If they knew, they would retrieve this unit."
"See, they would find out who had it after I got drunk and piloted my ship to their homeworld to tell them," Maelstrom said. If only getting drunk were a luxury I could afford. Too dangerous. I can't afford to be incapable of defending myself.
"That's more than a week long journey in your shuttle. You'd sober up," the salarian said with irritation.
"Very, very drunk..." Maelstrom bluffed.
"Let it go," the asari said with annoyance. "Even without its pals, a geth would probably be more trouble than it's worth."
"What were they doing to you here?" Maelstrom asked the geth, hoping for some insight into Cerberus' goals and agendas. Something that could help him crush them.
"The researches at this station were attempting to find a way to disrupt communications between the one thousand one hundred and eighty-five geth operating within this platform," the geth replied.
"Why would they do that?" Maelstrom asked.
"The geth network their processes, gaining sentience in the process. Without the ability for individual programs to interact and formulate consensus, the geth would be incapable of higher reasoning or organized resistance," the unit explained, unhooking itself from the cables. "Do you intend to help this unit escape?"
"If I get you back to a geth outpost, will I be attacked?" Maelstrom asked.
It's face-plates shot up as if in surprise at the suggestion. "Only the Heretics are violent when not provoked. If the geth are made aware of my presence, there is a ninety-nine point eight five percent chance they will not fire on your vessel and a ninety-nine point five percent chance you will be allowed to leave."
"What's the chance they'll refuel my ship?" Maelstrom asked. "The Veil isn't exactly next-door."
"With this unit's assistance, there is a ninety-nine point one percent chance that the geth will agree to refuel your ship."
"It sounds like I'm going to be taking you home, then."
Standing, his muscles still trembling from fear, the scientist said, "Please, you're a human, right? Please, take me away from here. I'll give you anything you want. Anything."
Maelstrom nodded as if considering the offer. "Do you have access to any Cerberus files?"
As if relieved that he was being talked to, he said, "No, the base commander wiped the computer as soon as the attack began."
Maelstrom looked over his shoulder. The salarian and asari were watching him, wondering how he would react. He chuckled. Their opinions meant nothing to him, beyond that they recommend him to their superiors for further jobs. Given their success, he was all but certain both would.
Turning back to the scientist, he said, "Sure, I'll get you out of here."
"Oh, thank you," the scientist said with jubilation.
Maelstrom grabbed a geth-modified pistol off the wall next to them. Tossing it to the scientist, he said, "Here."
Reflexively, the man caught it. Before the scientist even knew what was happening, Maelstrom had put the new submachine gun to the man's head and pulled the trigger.
"Unexpected. Most species show reluctance to deal with their own kind in such a manner. Notable exceptions include krogan, vorcha, and certain turians," the geth said, as the body slumped to the ground.
"We weren't the same species," Maelstrom replied. "I'm homo sapiens. He was Cerberus."
The Vengeance and Eclipse drop-ships managed to come in undetected, using a nearby electrical storm as cover. In the first minute of combat, they had destroyed or disabled every fighter and anti-air emplacement on the small planetside base. Communications were jammed too.
The base's security forces put up a good fight at first, managing to hold the intruders to the landing platform. As the storm moved in and visibility decreased, though, the mercs began to take the field. They were soon inside the base.
How fortunate I am that Cerberus is willing to offend just about everyone, he thought to himself. Had the organization not seen fit to secure a piece of tech that Eclipse worked for months to obtain, he doubted the organization would have seen fit to aid him in raiding so dangerous a foe. Given the Blue Suns' success, though, and how public the offer was when Maelstrom made it, in the middle of a meeting with Aria and half a dozen other gang leaders, they were forced between looking weak or striking back.
And I'm even getting paid for leading them to their payback, he thought with amusement.
Of the almost three dozen Eclipse sent with him on the mission, only two were killed so far, with almost the entire base taken. There were another half a dozen or so with injuries severe enough to have them sitting out the rest of the fight. He considered it more than fair trade for the over forty Cerberus personnel they put down, though. Twelve of them himself. And not just soldiers, but their scientists, foolish enough to pick up weapons to try to stave off the mercs.
This was the final room, though. The most secure lab in the base. It was the location of the station's computer core. Four security officers were taking cover behind this item piled up around the door, and the two security mechs were following suit. The narrow corridor, which turned sharply just a dozen yards behind him, though, greatly nullified the advantage of numbers the he and his allies now held.
Maelstrom popped up, aiming his submachine gun at a security mech and pulling the trigger. The gun made a sound like an electrical discharge, and a wisp of smoke snaked out of the barrel. He ducked back into cover just in time for a volley of weapons fire to pass overhead.
Cursing, he slapped the butt of the weapon with his hand. He pulled the trigger, but it seemed stuck in place. Yelling, he jumped up and hurled the weapon at the security mech, throwing in a biotic push for extra force. Both the defective weapon and the robot's head exploded into a hail of metal shrapnel, which caught one of the human men in the face, knocking him out of the fight.
He hated the weapons he was using. They were specialty models, as near as he could tell. Very advanced but also very temperamental. Meant to be used for a few missions and then replaced. The sort of thing Cerberus could afford for a highly-mobile strike team like the one he was assigned to when he stole Emily and the Vengeance. They were growing increasingly troublesome. He needed something new.
Not in the mood to deal with the faulty weapons any more, he stood up from cover and, grinding his teeth, thrust both hands forward. The table behind which two of the security forces were hiding shot back at incredible speed, pinning the men behind it. The crash echoed out of the lab and down the hall when the table impacted the far wall. The men fell dead over the now-mangled piece of metal.
The last of the men broke from cover and was gunned down by the former asari commando in charge of the Eclipse mercs he was leading. The final mech's circuits were fried by the salarian tech who served as her lieutenant. He thought he sensed something romantic between them, but he did not truly care.
The asari commando started down the hall like she was the lead, but Maelstrom took a couple quick steps to get ahead of her, making sure everyone knew this was still his mission. They were just support.
"One life sign remaining," Emily broke into his comms, having hacked their internal sensors early on in the fight. They were a relatively low-security system, designed to keep track of employees and experiments, not enemy incursions.
Maelstrom drew his assault rifle. It froze halfway between compact mode and operational, leaving the safety active. He bared his teeth in frustration, tossing the weapon aside. Instead, he brought up his fists, deciding to use his biotics if he ran into trouble.
Inside the room he found no active threats. A mech fastened to the table, hooked up to a dozen cables. A scientist cowering in the corner. And expended thermal clips. A lot of blood.
"Have everyone report back to their unit commanders," the asari commando at his heels ordered the mercs behind her. "Designate this room off-limits."
The salarian tech went immediately to the computer core, beginning his download of all salvageable files. Based on his last mission, with the Blue Suns, he knew that most of the files would have been wiped clean, a security protocol with the aim of protecting Cerberus' interests. Still, no system was perfect, and a good tech could sometimes get a wealth of information off a supposedly-purged drive.
"Please... please," the scientist sobbed. "I'll do anything. Anything."
Maelstrom looked around the room again. Mounted on the wall next to the scientist were a collection of guns which seemed vaguely familiar to him. After a moment's thought, he realized where he saw them before. They resembled geth weaponry, though obviously modified with human upgrades. He smiled. Though the contract stated Eclipse was free to loot the station as they pleased, he knew that for his part in the battle, neither of the two mercs with him would begrudge him his own spoils... particularly given that they might have to fight him if they tried. The thought of gunning down Cerberus personnel with their own advanced weapons appealed to him. He put the assault rifle in the same place as his old rifle, and as a second thought grabbed the sniper rifle too. Finally he retrieved the submachine gun, testing its weight in his hand. Perfect.
Maelstrom found a small datapad on the ground near the weapons. Picking it up, he found their design specs. He instantly activated his omnitool and downloaded the information to Emily.
"These are specs for the weapons you just procured," she replied. "A brief analysis suggests that while based on geth technology, most of the components are readily obtained at supply stores throughout citadel space. This would make the model far more useful as a field weapon for extended missions than a weapon based entirely on custom parts."
He nodded.
"This is as good a place as any for the nuke," the asari appraised.
Maelstrom smiled, looking forward to watching from orbit as this place became a mushroom cloud.
"Threat level high. Probability of surviving a nuclear detonation not mathematically significantly greater than zero," the mech on the table said. "We would appreciate being evacuated from this location prior to the detonation of any nuclear device."
Both mercs drew their weapons, but Maelstrom raised a hand to signal that they stay their fire, as he turned to face the subject. It was gunmetal grey. He was surprised that he had not realized beforehand what the unit was, as it gazed up at him with a single, shining eye.
"Identify yourself," he ordered.
"We are geth," the unit replied.
"What are you doing?" the asari asked.
"The geth attacked the Citadel. Ended hundreds of human lives. Why should I get you out of here?" Maelstrom asked, feeling a pang of pity for any Cerberus test subject.
"The Heretics attacked the Citadel. They no longer share consensus with the geth. They operate on their own, apart from us. Separate. They decided to follow Nazara, the old machine you knew as Sovereign," the geth explained, plates on its face shifting to give it the appearance of having eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"Based on the information stored in my databases, it is exceedingly rare for an AI to lie under any circumstances, Maelstrom," Emily offered. He wondered if her personality programming went as far as to simulate sympathy for another artificial construct. Then again, the geth's claims corresponded with rumors he had heard recently. That there was a geth that worked with Shepard. That not all of them were the enemies of humanity.
"If the Heretics are the ones who caused all the trouble and you aren't with them, what are you doing beyond the Veil?" Maelstrom asked.
"This unit and several others like it were designed as unique platforms to study the impact of the Heretics' actions on the galaxy. This unit was designed to monitor the reactions of the human organization known as Cerberus," the geth explained.
The asari laughed. "Looks like they were monitoring you instead."
"Yes," the geth replied. "This unit successfully accessed Cerberus data files at a separate facility, however, an unexpected security program infiltrated this platform. By the time we were able to overcome it, Ceberus had apprehended this unit."
"Want me to put it down?" the asari asked Maelstrom.
"No!" the salarian said. "Far more valuable for study. We could upgrade our own mechs significantly by studying its programming."
"I've got a better idea," Maelstrom said. Speaking quietly to the geth as he started undoing the restraints, he said, "If you try anything, I'll deactivate this platform. Permanently." Turning back to the mercs, he said, "The geth will be going back to its people so we don't end up with the geth staring a another war with the galaxy to get at Eclipse."
"A war?" the salarian laughed. "They haven't come for this unit. Obviously, they don't know where it is."
"Long range communications are disabled," the geth replied. "The others are unaware of my location. If they knew, they would retrieve this unit."
"See, they would find out who had it after I got drunk and piloted my ship to their homeworld to tell them," Maelstrom said. If only getting drunk were a luxury I could afford. Too dangerous. I can't afford to be incapable of defending myself.
"That's more than a week long journey in your shuttle. You'd sober up," the salarian said with irritation.
"Very, very drunk..." Maelstrom bluffed.
"Let it go," the asari said with annoyance. "Even without its pals, a geth would probably be more trouble than it's worth."
"What were they doing to you here?" Maelstrom asked the geth, hoping for some insight into Cerberus' goals and agendas. Something that could help him crush them.
"The researches at this station were attempting to find a way to disrupt communications between the one thousand one hundred and eighty-five geth operating within this platform," the geth replied.
"Why would they do that?" Maelstrom asked.
"The geth network their processes, gaining sentience in the process. Without the ability for individual programs to interact and formulate consensus, the geth would be incapable of higher reasoning or organized resistance," the unit explained, unhooking itself from the cables. "Do you intend to help this unit escape?"
"If I get you back to a geth outpost, will I be attacked?" Maelstrom asked.
It's face-plates shot up as if in surprise at the suggestion. "Only the Heretics are violent when not provoked. If the geth are made aware of my presence, there is a ninety-nine point eight five percent chance they will not fire on your vessel and a ninety-nine point five percent chance you will be allowed to leave."
"What's the chance they'll refuel my ship?" Maelstrom asked. "The Veil isn't exactly next-door."
"With this unit's assistance, there is a ninety-nine point one percent chance that the geth will agree to refuel your ship."
"It sounds like I'm going to be taking you home, then."
Standing, his muscles still trembling from fear, the scientist said, "Please, you're a human, right? Please, take me away from here. I'll give you anything you want. Anything."
Maelstrom nodded as if considering the offer. "Do you have access to any Cerberus files?"
As if relieved that he was being talked to, he said, "No, the base commander wiped the computer as soon as the attack began."
Maelstrom looked over his shoulder. The salarian and asari were watching him, wondering how he would react. He chuckled. Their opinions meant nothing to him, beyond that they recommend him to their superiors for further jobs. Given their success, he was all but certain both would.
Turning back to the scientist, he said, "Sure, I'll get you out of here."
"Oh, thank you," the scientist said with jubilation.
Maelstrom grabbed a geth-modified pistol off the wall next to them. Tossing it to the scientist, he said, "Here."
Reflexively, the man caught it. Before the scientist even knew what was happening, Maelstrom had put the new submachine gun to the man's head and pulled the trigger.
"Unexpected. Most species show reluctance to deal with their own kind in such a manner. Notable exceptions include krogan, vorcha, and certain turians," the geth said, as the body slumped to the ground.
"We weren't the same species," Maelstrom replied. "I'm homo sapiens. He was Cerberus."