Imperial Reckoning: Humanity Return

Chapter 53: Echoes of the Morning War

The Normandy’s landing struts hissed as they settled on the grassy outskirts of Eden Prime. The first light was breaking over the horizon, casting a faint glow on Lord Commander Shepard’s armor as he stood at the ramp, his team assembled beside him.

Moving swiftly, their boots pressed into the damp soil as they advanced toward the dig site. Tensions simmered among the Normandy’s crew, each fully aware of the risks.

An uneasy silence lingered until a sudden, mechanical hum cut through the stillness. Shepard signaled for his team to take cover, his visor scanning the ridge to their left. Emerging from the shadows, drones with red optics hovered ominously in their path, weapons primed and locked on Shepard’s team.

“Drones!” Kaidan shouted, his voice sharp as he summoned a biotic pulse, hurling a sphere of blue energy that destabilized one of the drones in mid-flight. The machine careened, exploding against a nearby boulder.

Ashley raised her rifle, taking aim. “These things are persistent,” she muttered, sidestepping a blast aimed at her as she picked off another drone.

Tali dodged behind Shepard, her shotgun raised. With a quick pull of the trigger, she dismantled the last drone, scattering its pieces across the dirt. Silence fell once more, now tinged with tension instead of tranquility.

Shepard scanned his team. “Everyone all right?”

“I’m fine,” Tali replied, kneeling beside one of the fallen drones. Running a quick scan over its metallic shell, she narrowed her eyes. “But… Shepard, these are Geth. I’d recognize them anywhere.”

Shepard frowned. “Geth? Aren’t they the machines your people created? The ones that forced the Quarians into exile?”

Tali nodded, a mix of surprise and resentment in her voice. “Yes. The Geth rebelled and sparked the Morning War, the conflict that exiled my people. But they haven’t left the Perseus Veil in centuries. Seeing them here is… troubling.”

Kaidan, his brow furrowed, voiced the question on everyone’s mind. “Why would the Geth be here now? They’ve been isolated for so long.”

Ashley, her rifle ready, added, “Maybe they’re after the beacon. Seems like the kind of tech that might interest machines.”

Shepard tightened his grip on his rifle. “Let’s move. We can’t let them beat us to it.” Activating his comms, he signaled Nihilus, who was scouting ahead. “Nihilus, be advised: we have Geth on the ground. Stay alert.”

The Turian’s voice crackled through Shepard’s earpiece, his tone steady but cautious. “Understood, Shepard. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Their pace quickened as they navigated winding trails toward the dig site. When they arrived, however, they found only an empty clearing—the beacon was gone.

Frustration rose until a shout came from a nearby ledge. A soldier stumbled into view, clutching his side, his uniform battered and stained with soot.

“Hold your fire!” Shepard called out, raising a fist to halt his team. The soldier stumbled forward and saluted, his face pale but determined.

“Lieutenant Jenkins, Astra Militarum, sir. By the Emperor, it’s an honor to see you here,” Jenkins panted.

“At ease, Lieutenant,” Shepard replied, his voice firm but compassionate. “Report.”

“Sir, those flashlight-heads—the machines—came out of nowhere. Then a massive ship descended and jammed our communications. We tried to send a distress call, but they cut us off.” Jenkins shook his head. “We secured the beacon at the docks, thinking it’d be safe there. But… my team didn’t make it.”

Shepard placed a hand on Jenkins’ shoulder. “You did your duty, Lieutenant. Head back to the Normandy; Joker will get you out of here. We’ll take it from here.”

Jenkins nodded, relief in his eyes, before turning and sprinting toward the Normandy. Shepard activated his comms again. “Joker, there’s a soldier heading your way. Have the medics check him over.”

“Copy that, Lord Commander,” Joker replied, his usual levity replaced with a more professional tone.

With renewed urgency, Shepard and his team pressed onward, weaving through a narrow valley until they reached a fortified military camp. The sight that met them was horrifying: twisted human forms lay scattered, reanimated with mechanical implants, their eyes vacant. The husks moved as one, staggering toward the team with a menacing intent.

Shepard’s voice was decisive. “Weapons free! Take them down!”

Gunfire erupted, flashes illuminating the darkened sky as they fought off the horde of human-machine monstrosities. Tali sidestepped an oncoming husk, her shotgun tearing it apart. Kaidan unleashed a biotic wave, sending several creatures sprawling, while Ashley’s rifle cut down every target within her line of sight.

As the last husk fell, Nihilus appeared from the shadows, his rifle slung over his shoulder. He nodded to Shepard, his face grim.

“I’ve seen something strange,” Nihilus reported quietly. “There was a Turian directing the Geth, but I couldn’t get a clear shot.”

Shepard’s expression hardened. “We’re not alone out here. Let’s approach from different angles. Nihilus, take up a sniper position and cover us.”

They advanced toward the docks with practiced precision. In the clearing, the beacon loomed—its ancient structure stark against the industrial backdrop. But blocking their path was a heavily armored Turian, commanding a squad of Geth.

“Tali, disrupt their systems! Ash, Kaidan, weapons free!”

“On it,” Tali said, her omni-tool glowing as she initiated a series of overloads. Sparks exploded within the Geth ranks as her commands detonated their cores, reducing them to smoldering heaps.

As soon as the heavy hitters were down, Ashley unleashed a hail of rifle fire, while Kaidan’s biotic powers flared, pushing the Geth further back.

Shepard, drawing on the power of the warp, took down one of the Geth Primes, while Ashley eliminated the other.

With his forces crumbling, the Turian attempted to retreat. Shepard quickly loaded a high-explosive round, taking aim. His shot struck near the Turian’s face, ripping a chunk of his helmet off and revealing the unmistakable features of Saren, the Spectre who had helped them at Malevolon Creek.

Shepherd stared at him, it was clear to him why he was here. he's planning on wiping out the Imperium if he gets the chance.

Saren managed to get to his Dropship before Shepherd could get another shot off to the mass of ship off into the distance, the massive claw looking thing from before now looking more like a squid.

With the remaining Geth neutralized, Shepard and his team regrouped around the beacon.

“We’ve got what we came for,” Ashley said, holstering her weapon.

“Not yet,” Tali interjected, crouching beside a partially intact Geth core. “I can pull some data from this. Might give us insight into why they’re here.”

Shepard nodded, though his gaze remained on the beacon, a strange energy pulling him closer. Ignoring his instincts to stay back, he reached out to deactivate it.

The instant he touched it, Shepard’s mind exploded with searing visions—worlds burning, alien structures being destroyed under orange skies, the haunting calls of unimaginable horrors. Enormous Reaper machines descended on helpless civilizations.

The beacon exploded, knocking him back.

“Shepard!” Tali was by his side in an instant, gripping his shoulders as he blinked back to awareness. “Are you all right?”

Shepard shook his head, dazed.

“We need to get you to the Normandy, now,” Tali insisted, concern etched in her voice.

Supported by Tali, Shepard made his way back to the Normandy. As they lifted off, Joker’s voice came over the intercom, steady but serious. The colony was safe, but whatever lay in those visions signaled a darkness Shepard couldn’t ignore—a threat that loomed not just over Eden Prime, but the entire galaxy.