Imperial Reckoning: Humanity Return

Chapter 42: Spectres

Lord Commander Shepard groaned awake, the sharp pains from the massive biotic blast still reverberating through his body. The first major Batarian stronghold had fallen to the Imperium, but not without cost. During the final push, the enemy commander had unleashed a devastating biotic attack that had knocked Shepard unconscious and left his forces to continue the fight without him.

As Shepard sat up in his med-bay, memories of the fierce battle replayed in his mind—the towering walls of the fortress crumbling under Imperial fire, Astartes charging through breaches, and the desperate counterattacks by the Batarians. The Normandy now orbited Malevolon Creek, serving as both a command center and a recovery station for the wounded.

Kaiden Alenko entered the room, his face a mixture of relief and worry. "Commander, you're finally awake. The medics said you were lucky—if the biotic energy had hit you just a bit harder..."

Shepard waved him off. "I'll live. What's the status of the campaign?"

Kaiden handed him a datapad with the latest updates. “The first stronghold’s been secured. The Batarians retreated to their secondary fortress. We’re preparing for the next assault, but there’s something else. The Citadel Council sent reinforcements—three Spectres.”

Shepard looked up from the datapad. “Spectres? The Council is getting involved directly now?”

Kaiden nodded. “Apparently, they were impressed by the way we handled the first stronghold. Civilians were spared despite the intensity of the fighting. The Council is starting to see the Imperium as more than just a militaristic force. But there’s a complication: one of the Spectres is Saren Arterius.”

Shepard grimaced. Saren’s disdain for the Imperium was no secret. He had made it clear during their past encounters that he saw the Imperium’s expansion as dangerous. “Saren? Why would they send him?”

“The Council ordered them to assist, but he’s not happy about it,” Kaiden said. “The other two Spectres—Nihlus Kryik and Sidonas—seem more open to working with us.”

Shepard let out a sigh and swung his legs off the bed, wincing slightly as his body protested. “Alright, get me to the briefing room. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

---

In the Normandy’s command room, Shepard stood before a holo-display showing the layout of the planet’s major strongholds. Around him stood the three Spectres.

Nihlus Kryik stepped forward first, his silver Turian armor gleaming in the dim light. He gave Shepard a respectful nod. “Commander, the Council is watching this campaign closely. They’ve sent us to help you finish the job.”

Next to him was Sidonas, a seasoned Turian operative with a more casual demeanor. “I’ve seen what the Imperium can do firsthand. Your tactics, especially in protecting civilians, have caught the Council’s attention. We’re here to lend our support.”

Shepard acknowledged both of them before turning his gaze to Saren Arterius, who stood at the back of the room, his arms crossed and a sneer on his face. The hatred in his eyes was palpable.

“I’m only here because I was ordered,” Saren said coldly. “Let’s not pretend we’re allies. I’ll do what needs to be done, but don’t expect me to like it.”

Shepard stared him down, unflinching. “I don’t need you to like it. I need you to follow orders. The Batarians aren’t going to wait for us to get along.”

Nihlus, sensing the tension, quickly changed the subject. “We’re ready for deployment, Commander. Where do you need us?”

Shepard turned back to the holo-display. The first stronghold had been a brutal engagement, but the next fortress down the line would be even tougher. The Batarians had fortified their remaining defenses and dug in deep, preparing for a final stand before the Imperium could reach the capital.

“We’ve already taken the first stronghold,” Shepard said, tracing a line on the map toward the next target. “But the next one is even more heavily defended. We need to take it before we can advance on the capital.”

He turned to the Spectres, assigning each to assist different legions of the Astartes forces for the next assault.

“Sidonas, you’ll join the World Eaters under Primarch Angrya. They’ll need your expertise in tactical precision to break through the Batarian defenses.”

Sidonas gave a curt nod. “World Eaters, huh? I’ve heard they like to charge in headfirst. Should be interesting.”

“Nihlus, you’ll assist the Iron Warriors with Primarch Petra. They’re focusing on siege warfare and breaking down the Batarians’ fortifications.”

Nihlus smiled slightly. “I’ve read about Petra. A master of siege tactics. I’ll make sure the walls come down faster.”

Finally, Shepard looked at Saren. “You’ll join the Space Wolves under Primarch Ferrina Russ. Their methods are unorthodox, but they’re effective. You’ll learn a lot from them.”

Saren sneered, but offered no argument. “Fine. I’ll do my duty.”

Shepard watched as the Spectres prepared to leave the room, tension still lingering in the air between him and Saren. This mission wouldn’t be easy, and having Saren in the mix would complicate things, but he had no choice but to trust the Council’s operatives for now.

---

Hours later, Shepard, now in full combat gear, prepared to drop back down to the planet. The Astartes legions were already in the field, and the Spectres had been embedded with their respective units. Tali'Zorah, who had remained by Shepard’s side during his recovery, joined him at the drop bay.

"You sure you're ready for this?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with concern.

Shepard smirked, adjusting his helmet. "I’ve been through worse."

As the drop pod doors sealed shut, Shepard and his squad rocketed toward the surface of Malevolon Creek. The Imperium had established a forward base near the first stronghold, and from there, they would launch their assault on the second fortress.

The drop was violent, the pods rattling as they descended through the planet’s atmosphere. Explosions and the distant thud of artillery fire echoed in the background as Shepard’s squad prepared to land. The Imperial forces had gained ground, but the Batarians were far from defeated. They still held several key strongholds, and the second one loomed large on the horizon.

Shepard’s pod slammed into the ground, the doors flying open as he and his squad rushed out into the chaos. The air was thick with dust and smoke from the ongoing bombardment. Ahead of them, the Astartes legions were advancing toward the Batarian fortress, with towering siege engines and tanks pushing forward.

As Shepard moved toward the command tent, a towering Astartes warrior from the Astral Knights approached him, bowing his head slightly in respect. “Commander, the legions are ready. The Spectres are embedded with their assigned forces and await your command.”

Shepard nodded, his eyes scanning the battlefield. “Good. We need to hit them hard and fast. If we can break this stronghold, the road to the capital is ours.”

Despite the constant threat of danger, there was a strange calm that settled over Shepard as he surveyed the scene. The Imperium was in its element, and though the enemy was formidable, Shepard felt confident that with the Spectres’ assistance and the relentless might of the Astartes, the Batarians’ defenses would soon crumble.

Tali joined him by his side, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “This one feels different,” she said softly. “It’s like the calm before the storm.”

Shepard chuckled darkly. “Isn’t it always?”

With that, the assault on the second Batarian stronghold began in earnest, the full force of the Imperium bearing down on the planet. The next stage of the campaign was about to unfold, and the fate of Malevolon Creek would soon be decided.