Just a Mass Effect 3 fanfic

The Rachni Rage

(Shepard, Thorne, Jane, Kaidan, James, Liara, Garrus, EDI, Galahad, Jack, Javik, Kirrahe, and Cortez are on the Normandy's shuttle flying back to Tuchanka to do their mission for Wrex)

James: Any updates, Commander?

Shepard: Our backup's waiting for us at the drop point. Arlakh company. Krogan commandos

EDI: That is correct, Shepard. They are an accomplished unit. They decisive action in liberating a colony from batarian pirates made them famius

Jane: Good to hear

Shepard: Other than that, there's been no word from a team of krogan scouts since they went through the rachni relay

Javik: Understandable. In my cycle, we used the rachni as living weapons

Thorne: Living weapons?

Javik: They were only animals then, without technology. Violent, but useful. When they became a problem, we burnt 200 worlds to stop them

Shepard: We don't know much, but no rachni activity has been reported

Kaidan: Probably because the ones to report them went missing

EDI: Still, it's troubling that there are rumors at all

Liara: It's been years since we released the rachni queen, on the condition that she disappear forever. She was desperate to save her race

Jack: You WHAT?

Garrus: Moving on!

James: You're telling me you let a rachni queen go? Are you kidding?

Shepard: No. It was the right call. You'll see. Just be ready for anything

(The shuttle touches down, and the squad hops out)

(Grunt and a team of krogan soldiers arrive on the scene)

Grunt: Yeah, shuttle just arrived. You better get moving, team two. See anything, you let me know

Shepard: Grunt?

Grunt: Shepard?! SHEPARD! Hahahaha!

Shepard: What are you doing here?

Grunt: I could ask you the same question. Didn't those idiots lock you up?

Shepard: Yes, they did. They put me in lockdown. The alliance didn't want problems with the council while they were preparing for war against cerberus. But the situation's changed

Grunt: Yeah, they've got bigger problems, alright. That's why I'm out here running Arlakh company. They're tough. Think they're invincible. Reckless, but effective

Shepard: Sounds familiar, Grunt. So how did you go from being new and unproven to being in command?

Grunt: Wasn't easy. When Wrex put Arlakh company together, he needed a leader to represent the future of our species. Thanks to you, I completed my rite of passage on Tuchanka, and became part of clan Urdnot. I was an equal. And being the strongest, I was chosen to lead this honored company

Thorne: I bet some krogan were less than enthusiastic about a tank-bred specimen being in charge, but you must've put them in their place

Grunt: I collected a few scars to earn my place here. These krogan respect me

Shepard: Good to have you fighting with us again, Grunt

Jane: If these krogan are half the soldier you are, then we'll make it out of here easily