Prologue IV
"Everything cuts out after that… No comm traffic at all… Just goes dead. There's nothing." Joker says in disbelief.
"Hmmm… Reverse and hold at 38.5." Anderson orders.
The screen flashes back to the ship, except you, can notice that it is reminiscent of some sea creature, like an armored octopus, except with only five limbs and a red electrical discharge shrouding the vessel in a protective energy field.
Nihlus' mandible flair out while studying this large craft.
"Seventeen minutes out, Captain. No other alliance ships in the area." Joker says.
"Take us in, Joker. Fast and quiet. This mission just got a lot more complicated." Anderson orders.
"A small strike team can move quickly without drawing attention. It's our best chance to secure the beacon." Nihlus suggests while intently studying the photo.
"Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold." Anderson says to Nihlus who departs before turning to Sampson.
"Tell Alenko and Jenkins to suit up. You're all going in.
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The Normandy skims the upper atmosphere of Eden Prime, revealing a large blazing inferno over one of the prominent settlement areas on the planet.
"Engaging stealth systems." Joker says as he brings the Normandy in lower, outlining a mid-sized spaceport.
"Somebody was doing some serious digging here, Captain." Joker says as the embers float over a deserted archeological dig site.
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In the cargo bay, Anderson addresses the team, dressed in the standard alliance navy exo-armor with Sapphire wearing ground-based marine exo-armor that is white and pink. Sampson and Sapphire both wear the iconic N-7 designation on their armor.
"Your team's the muscle in this operation, Commander. Go in heavy and straight for the dig site." Anderson explains.
"What about the survivors, Captain?" Kaiden asks with concern.
"Helping survivors is a secondary objective. The beacon's your top priority." Anderson says, reiterating the importance of the beacon.
"Approaching drop point one." Joker says as the loading bay door opens as the wind begins wiping up the cargo hold.
"Nihlus? You're coming with us?" Jenkins asks in disbelief.
"I move faster on my own." Nihlus says checking his weapons before jumping out of the cargo bay.
"Nihlus will scout out ahead. He'll feed you status reports throughout the mission; otherwise, I want radio silence." Anderson orders.
"We've got his back, Captain." Sampson says.
"The mission's yours now, Sampson. Good luck." Anderson says as the Normandy flies on.
"We are approaching drop point two." Joker says as the ship hovers over the second drop point.
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Once on the ground, the team secures the drop site.
"Ship perimeter secure, Commander!" Kaiden shouts after sweeping the nearby area.
"This place got hit hard, Commander. Hostiles everywhere. Keep your guard up." Nihlus warns over the comms.
"Hmph, no shit." Sapphire says, "The hell are those?!" She shouts drawing her shotgun and aiming it at a group of strange, bulbous creatures floating across the ground.
"Easy, LC. It's just a Gas Bag. They're harmless, just be careful not to burst them, the stench will make you wretch for an hour." Jenkins reassures everyone before the team advances.
Finding a low-grade stimulant module for their armor which is given to Kaiden.
Scouting forward Jenkins exclaims in shock, "Oh, god… What happened here?" As the smell and smoke of destruction spread around the team.
Sapphire goes ahead with Jenkins to scout out the low-lying area.
While moving between cover two Geth recon drones dart out from further along the path firing on them.
Several bullets pierce Jenkins' armor before Saphire throws herself against him, blocking the remaining fire with her shield as Sampson and Kaiden return fire, quickly dispatching the drones.
"Phire! Jenkins! Are you alright?!" Sampson shouts stowing his pistol and rushing to her side.
"Ugh… Fuck…" Jenkins groans, holding his side, "Stupid mass-produced junk, shield generator never activated. Thanks, LC, saved my life!"
"No problem, Corporal. But you're in no condition to fight." Sapphire says steadying herself and dusting herself off revealing not a scratch.
"You're right. I'll stay with him and get him back to the ship." Kaiden volunteers.
"Good," Sampson says with a relieved sigh, before radioing the ship, "Joker, prepare for incoming. Jenkins is wounded and Alenko will be heading back with him once he's stable."
"Affirmative, Commander." Joker replies without additional chatter most likely because Anderson is monitoring the channel.
"Alright, let's move out." Sampson says drawing his pistol and taking the lead as the twins make their way up the path, past some gas bags before bullets start flying once more.
Pushing their way through and shooting the drones from the sky.
Once the last drone is eliminated, Nihlus calls out over the comms, "I've got some burned-out buildings here, Commander. A lot of bodies. I'm going to check it out. I'll try to catch up with you at the dig site."
Sapphire and Sampson push through a grove of thick trees before encountering another patrol of the drones.
After dealing with them and searching the area and discovering a box of medi-gel the twins move on. Coming upon a rocky outcropping to see a woman in marine exo-armor is chased by a pair of drones.
Her shield takes the brunt of the impact, but it still knocks her to the ground.
She uses the loss of their target to draw her pistol and knock those two drones down.
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Two bipedal metallic robots with glowing optical arrays located on their head, restrain a colonist on top of a strange device that shoots a massive spike through the colonist's chest.
The woman rushes to cover before drawing her rifle and begins returning fire to the robotic creatures who redirect their attention to her.
Sapphire and Sampson rush into the fray, blasting their adversaries away and allowing the woman a moment to collect herself before turning to Sapphire.
"Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212. You the one in charge here, ma'am?" Ashley asks with a salute.
"No that would be my brother. Are you wounded, Williams?" Sapphire asks back.
"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, ma'am. I've gotten a few scrapes and burns, but nothing serious. The others weren't so lucky." Ashley says regretfully before she starts recalling the day's events.