Imperial Reckoning: Humanity Return

Chapter 60: In the Belly of the Beast

The Normandy had been combing the barren worlds of the Sparta star cluster for days now. Shepherd and Bravo team meticulously scanned each desolate rock, enduring the monotony as they hunted for any trace of Liara. It was grueling work, with the cluster’s empty, lifeless planets offering little reward—only the occasional deposit of resources and, once, an ancient Prothean ruin with inscriptions in a language they couldn’t begin to decipher. Despite the aimless monotony, Shepherd’s drive remained steady, an unyielding need to bring his people back together.

By mid-afternoon, Shepherd found himself in the mess hall, tray in hand, gathering whatever lunch the Normandy’s modest kitchen could muster. He barely noticed the food as he sat down, lost in the swirl of recent missions. Shortly, he felt a comforting weight settle next to him. Tali had joined him, offering a soft smile before leaning her head on his shoulder. Shepherd sighed, grateful for the quiet moment shared between them. As they ate in silence, a familiar bustle soon surrounded them.

Ashley, Kaidan, Garrus, and Nihilus wandered in, trays clinking as they joined Shepherd and Tali at the table. Light conversation sprang up—mundane things that didn’t matter, a release after long days of harsh survival and hunting. They laughed at Garrus’s dry sarcasm, groaned over Kaidan’s terrible puns, and shook their heads at Ashley’s spot-on impressions of Normandy’s crew members. It was a slice of normality in a galaxy that rarely afforded them the chance.

Then, Ashley turned to Shepherd, a curious look on her face. “Hey, Commander… you’ve got a lot of sisters, right? Which one’s your favorite?”

A sudden hush fell over the group. Everyone stopped mid-laugh, eyes on Shepherd, intrigued by the question. They knew that Shepherd’s “family” was nothing like theirs—that his siblings were the other Primarchs, the Emperor’s most powerful creations. His Sisters, each one endowed with near-divine gifts, legends whose lives were built upon blood and sacrifice in the Emperor’s grand vision for humanity. Ashley’s innocent question now seemed to hang in the air, heavy with the respect and awe they all felt.

Shepherd felt a momentary pang, the memories stirring within him as he weighed how to answer. After a pause, he met Ashley’s gaze and said, “I’d have to say Angrya.”

Ashley tilted her head, curious but now clearly hesitant. “Why her?”

Shepherd exhaled, glancing down at his hands. “It’s… not an easy story to tell.” He looked up, and the faces around him softened, all of them now genuinely invested. Shepherd took a breath, his voice low and steady as he began.

“During the Great Crusade, before the Second Imperial-Batarian War, the Emperor and I found ourselves on a planet that still haunts me—Nuceria. When humanity started to expand into the stars, the Imperium had almost no reach out there. The place was a lawless hellscape, practically the Wild West of the galaxy. And Nuceria was the worst of it. It was a slaver world, a vile haven where alien races would come to buy and sell lives, forcing their captives into brutal gladiatorial battles for entertainment. The Emperor and I decided we couldn’t let it stand, so we launched an invasion to wipe out the slavers.”

He paused, his gaze distant as memories flooded back. “That’s where we found her—Angrya. She was just a kid when they forced her into those fighting pits. When she tried to resist, they implanted something in her brain, ancient tech they called the Butcher’s Nails. It made her feel pain anytime she experienced an emotion other than anger. It kept her in line, kept her fighting. She’d been through hell.”

Shepherd’s voice tightened. “When we liberated her, I thought it might be better to end her suffering… but the Emperor stopped me. He promised he’d find a way to help her, that she’d have a chance to live free from the pain. I still hope he’s right about that.”

The mess hall was silent. Each of them wore a different expression, processing what they’d just heard. Nihilus stood stoic, his Turian mask unyielding, while Tali rubbed Shepherd’s back gently, offering silent support. Ashley’s face fell, guilt clouding her features, and Kaidan stared off, lost in his own thoughts.

Their reverie was broken by the voice of Joker crackling over the intercom. “Commander, you and the team might want to get up here. We’ve got something.”

Shepherd looked at his team, their brief rest now set aside, as they all stood and made their way to the bridge. Joker spun in his chair, pointing to the display. “Got a fix on Liara’s last known location. We’re looking at a solid reading from one of the inner planets. Coordinates set.”

Shepherd nodded, his resolve sharpening. “Alright, everyone, mount up. We’re taking the express route down.”

Ashley, Kaidan, Garrus, Tali, and Shepherd climbed aboard one of the Normandy’s gunships, strapped in as Joker gave them a firm thumbs-up from the cockpit. As they broke atmosphere, the gunship rattled and shook, thick turbulence rocking the hull as they descended.

Ashley noticed Tali gripping her seat and nudged her. “Hey, you doing okay there?”

Tali forced a smile. “Fine. Just… not a fan of how bumpy this ride is.”

Before anyone could reassure her, the whole ship lurched as the lights flickered. Joker’s voice crackled through the comms, urgency in his tone. “Heads up, you’ve got Geth drones and fighter platforms moving in. Looks like they don’t want you here.”

The gunship shuddered as laser fire streaked past, filling the windows with flashing lights and explosive bursts. Garrus took the lead at the gun, his sharp Turian eyes tracking targets as he lined up shot after shot. Tali handled targeting, guiding him as he tore through the drones with unrelenting accuracy. Kaidan and Ashley strapped themselves in tighter as Shepherd barked orders, keeping the team steady in the violent exchange.

Drones and platforms whirred past, unleashing salvo after salvo as the team’s ship twisted, narrowly avoiding each deadly pass. Garrus’s turret rattled as he fired, sending drones spiraling away in clouds of debris. A fighter platform moved in close, firing relentlessly, but Tali’s quick coordination with Garrus brought it down with a blazing, white-hot explosion that lit up the whole cabin. After a long, tense few minutes, they broke free of the aerial assault, their gunship descending with the battlefield stretching out below them.

As they touched down, they saw the impossible—a vast army of Geth platforms, nearly endless, sprawled out before them like an impenetrable wall.

Tali voiced what everyone was thinking. “There’s no way we can push through all of that by ourselves.”

Shepherd gritted his teeth and activated his comm, calling Joker. “Joker, we’ve got an army of Geth platforms in front of us. I don’t want to see them here anymore. Send reinforcements.”

Joker’s chuckle came through the static. “Roger that, Commander. Coming right up.”

In moments, five drop pods shot down from the Normandy, streaking through the sky before slamming into the ground with powerful thuds. As each pod opened, squads of Space Marines, Astral Knights, stepped out, their imposing armor glinting in the planet’s harsh sunlight. Shepherd nodded at their arrival, his confidence bolstered.

Joker’s voice came over the comm again. “Also, thought you might enjoy this.” A thunderous blast followed as the Normandy’s cannons fired directly into the heart of the Geth ranks, obliterating a large portion of the platforms in a single, fiery wave. The ground shook as debris and fragments scattered across the battlefield, but countless Geth still stood in defiance.

Shepherd raised his rifle and turned to his team and the newly arrived Space Marines. His voice was steely, a command that cut through the chaos. “Alright, we’re pushing through. We need to secure this area and find Liara. Everyone, move out!”

With renewed vigor, they surged forward, Space Marines leading the charge alongside Shepherd’s team. The clamor of gunfire and explosions filled the air as they fought their way through the horde of Geth. Shepherd’s rifle fired in precise bursts, each shot landing true as he carved a path forward. Garrus and Kaidan moved in tandem, covering each other while Ashley and Tali provided support, every shot methodical and deadly.

The Geth responded with their own ruthless efficiency, their synchronized movements creating a formidable defense. But the Astral Knights were relentless, pushing forward with unbreakable determination. Blasts from the Marines’ bolters shredded Geth platforms left and right, paving the way for Shepherd and his team