The alarm went off just as Jane stepped out of the shower and I was about to go in.
"Attention Crew. Geth have appeared in the Presidium. A lot of Geth. According to received orders, all available forces must immediately arrive at the Presidium and contain the enemy. A Geth fleet is moving toward the Citadel itself... There's going to be a very big mess!"
"Fuck..."
I rushed to the closet where the clean clothes were, as well as where my armor was located.
"Jane, catch!"
I threw her a tracksuit jacket and pants.
"Thanks! Five minutes and I'll be ready!"
Pulling the tracksuit over her naked body, Jane ran out of my cabin barefoot; I continued to dress, already anticipating the whole range of sensations I would experience putting armor on a sweaty body. And the armor itself would have to be cleaned later, too.
A few minutes later, I was already running in armor toward the cargo bay, signaling the landing team where exactly we would be gathering.
"Everyone, get into the Mako, move it!"
Jane arrived last, after which the ramp was partially opened and, using it as a small ramp, we ended up on the territory of the spaceport.
"Answer, damn it!"
"Now is not the time."
All this time I had been trying to contact Tevos, and she finally answered my call.
"Tevos, get to the SSV Normandy immediately! And take the other Councilors with you!"
"Shepard, do not take it upon yourself..."
"The Geth are Saren's supporters, he himself is a former Spectre, but even if he weren't, it's not that hard to find out your evacuation algorithm. The Destiny Ascension will be our enemy's primary target! So get moving and get to the SSV Normandy! If the others don't want to, YOU MUST be on the SSV Normandy!"
"Shepard..."
In Tevos's voice, which had sounded calm when she answered my call, irritation was heard.
"...Tevos, there's no time. You're a smart woman, and you must understand that the Destiny Ascension will become a grave for all of you. Yes, a fancy one, since it's the largest dreadnought in Citadel Space, but a grave. So if you want to live, get to the SSV Normandy!"
"Understood..."
The Asari's voice sounded extremely displeased, but at least she didn't argue. She just hung up, and I called Joker.
"Do not leave the docks."
"Ah?"
"But I've already undocked!"
"Then hang around for a bit; your task is to evacuate the Council. They will arrive soon, so wait for them."
"Understood..."
Disappointment was heard in Joker's voice. He was clearly already mentally flying into battle.
"Joker..."
"I understood, don't go anywhere and..."
"You didn't understand a damn thing. I'm giving you carte blanche for actions. BUT! The ship, the crew, and the Council must survive."
"Understood!"
Now joy was heard in our pilot's voice!
"I see the Council's transport, Geth are pursuing them!"
"Open fire!"
Fortunately, as soon as we left the SSV Normandy, everyone who could put on exoskeletons did so, so our fire density was such that the Geth drones couldn't do anything. We didn't even have to use Biotics.
"Don't slow down!"
I had to shout at Revi and Chief, who wanted to stop to make it easier for us to shoot. But I didn't think that was a good idea. So I had to give the order to the girls, after which the Mako engines roared and we continued moving. It was also good that the new transports were loaded as soon as we arrived at the Citadel, otherwise we might have been left without transport... well, one.
We continued moving, and although getting to the Presidium from the docks using only the Mako wasn't the simplest option, it was still possible, it just required a bit more time.
When we arrived at the Presidium, we saw an even greater number of Geth, who quite briskly opened fire on us. And there were not only ordinary Geth, as well as drones, but also snipers, and all this would have been quite difficult to contain if I were the only biotic in the group. But there were five of us. And five biotics for a team of twelve sentients, one YMIR Mech, and two LOKI Mechs—that is more than a serious force, and if you count the two Mako, we turned into a formidable force indeed.
The Geth were forced to reckon with this force, as they had no heavy weaponry, which meant they could offer little against us. However, their numbers were also quite dangerous, so the biotics couldn't be distracted by attacking, focusing entirely on defense.
"Commander, the Citadel has closed!"
Joker's voice was agitated.
"The Destiny Ascension is under attack! All ships that left the docks are under attack! One hit from this thing and that's it!"
"Then don't get hit!"
I barked at Joker, who decided to chat with me during the battle. At the same time, we finally reached the place from which, judging by the tracks, the Geth had reached us. It was that very Mass Relay statue.
"Attention, a reminder that damaging the Citadel is prohibited. A fine will be imposed on you for such an act."
"Look at that, this VI is still working."
Ashley said this with a sneer. However, I perfectly understood her attitude toward this VI. In general, anyone who had been to the Citadel could understand it. It was programmed far too limitedly. However, there was a perfectly normal explanation for this. No one wanted to be suspected of creating an AI, and a VI that was too smart might seem dangerous to someone...
"Avina performs her duties extremely diligently. So it's not worth making fun of her..."
Tali decided to side with the VI; though no one intended to conflict, so Ashley just waved her off. Moving to the chamber where the Council meets.
I gave a short order, and we headed for the elevator that could lead to that chamber.
"Damn, there are just so many Geth here!"
Irritation was heard in Jane's voice.
"It's fine, we'll handle them all..."
"Special forces operating!"
With those words, an Alliance squad ran onto the plaza and immediately opened fire on the Geth.
"Lissi, Missi, cover the squad."
"Understood!"
The girls immediately used Charge and ended up next to the soldiers, covering them with Biotic barriers. And this immediately yielded results. If before the soldiers hid behind cover and partly fired at random, now their shooting became more aimed.
In literally a few minutes, the plaza in front of the elevator was cleared and the head of the squad we were fighting alongside approached me.
"Captain Martinez, with whom do I have the honor?"
"Spectre Shepard. Breaking through to the Council tower. According to unconfirmed reports, Saren, who brought the Geth here, is currently there."
"Need help?"
I wanted to refuse, of course, but at that moment a Citadel Security (C-Sec) squad also made its way onto the plaza.
"Captain Sevras, with whom do I have the honor?"
An Asari dressed in Citadel Security (C-Sec) armor stepped slightly forward.
"Captain Martinez, Spectre Shepard."
I first pointed my hand at my colleague and then pointed at myself.
"Adams..."
I cast a short glance at the man. "Transfer twenty people to Sevras, let her handle security in the Presidium. Ten come with me. Better to have more barrels that can riddle the enemy."
"But..."
"This is a Spectre's order."
"Understood!"
Immediately Martinez stepped aside, and I turned my attention to Sevras.
"No one must get into the elevator shaft. And after that, you handle the evacuation of civilians and everything else you're supposed to do. Understood?"
"Yes, sir, I'll just report to my superiors that a Spectre recruited me."
She said this with a slight sneer.
"Move out."
Nodding to her, I waited for the squad of Alliance soldiers, after which we all entered the elevator; fortunately, it was large enough here. But it didn't start moving. And that made me wince.
"Alright, everyone get ready... armor to airtight mode."
After my order was carried out, I smashed the elevator ceiling, and it immediately became clear that we didn't need the airtight mode. However, I didn't cancel it; instead, I lifted everyone with Lift and, using the magnetic boots that were in every armor, we headed up the vertical wall.
It was certainly difficult, but our armor helped us a bit with this, and those wearing exoskeletons were quite carefree, as the suit itself supported them, allowing them not to strain so much.
Step, another step, another...
"Geth!"
Garrus Vakarian was the first to spot the enemy, but maneuvering in such a position was extremely difficult, so we had to rely entirely on the barriers, as well as on the marksmanship of the subordinates following us. Although marksmanship wasn't particularly needed here; we took them with numbers, simply showering the enemy with bullets.
"Incoming!"
Liara pointed to a Geth Dropship that crashed into the elevator shaft, breaking it, and now, since this part of the shaft was already outside the part where the atmosphere was maintained, we found ourselves in airless space.
The Geth Dropship that "fell" next to us didn't become a problem for us; we simply shot all the Geth that left it. And it was extremely simple. I even wondered if I was in the same world where all this was extremely dangerous. And then I remembered again that in the canon, Shepard constantly runs with two companions, and I breathed a sigh of relief in secret.
The world is the same, I'm just smarter than the original... well, at least because I know the canon. Though because of that same reason, I apparently didn't make it to Ilos, from which I was supposed to get to the Citadel.
However, it's for the better.
We are rested and well-armed, and if we had reached Ilos, it's not certain it would have been the same.
"Damn it, Shepard, do something!"
In Joker's voice, who contacted me again, panic was heard.
"I'm spinning like a fish on a frying pan here! My shots are like a drop in the bucket to this thing! The ships that were in the docks are almost gone! The Destiny Ascension is on its last legs! We need to open this damn Citadel!"
"Easier said than done..."
My voice was slightly grumbling.
"...we are just going up to the Council chamber, from where, as far as I know, Saren is controlling the station, but the elevator isn't working, there's no air here, and it's full of Geth."
"Ein moment!"
I didn't understand exactly what Joker meant by that, but then I saw the SSV Normandy closing in on the elevator, and then opening fire from the GARDIAN systems, aiming it at the elevator shaft.
"Psycho!"
One of the Alliance soldiers even crouched in fear, but the biotics simply created a multi-layered barrier, which, after the SSV Normandy's flyby, was almost half broken. And it was a miracle... or rather, not exactly a miracle; it was clear the system wasn't working at one hundred percent power, but somewhere at five, maybe fifteen.
"Thanks, of course, but..."
"Move it! We won't last long!"
Joker shouted at me.
"Everyone heard that? Pick up the pace!"
I gave the order, and we immediately continued moving toward the Council chamber.
"Your pilot is a psycho."
Martinez ended up next to me and expressed his immensely valuable opinion regarding Joker's actions.
"On the other hand, now we can walk calmly and not worry about the Geth, as there are too few of them left here to even slow our progress."
Wrex was completely satisfied. Judging by the growls that slipped into his speech, his blood was simply boiling, and he wanted to continue the fight. And at the same time, he was fascinated by Joker's maneuver... at least, his shouts during the SSV Normandy's flyby, in which he praised Joker, could not be interpreted any other way.
"Almost there. Everyone get ready for battle."
The doors leading to the Council chamber had to be opened manually, and as soon as we did, a stream of air hit us, threatening to blow us away, but almost at that same moment, a shield film formed, which easily let us inside but didn't let the air out of the chamber.
Once we were inside, the Geth again became a somewhat larger problem; however, apparently, Saren hadn't taken that many Geth with him. So we quite quickly reached the chamber where, in its center, in front of a holographic panel, stood Saren.
"Ah... Shepard... you're late."
"I don't think so..."
I shook my head and fired at Saren, so he had to jump away from the terminal.
***
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