Mass Effect: Reaper Dreams

Assault on Amaranthine (Part 2)

June 30th, 2188

Ashley Williams

Jack

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Ashley didn't know who or what was causing the coms to jam, but it was the break they needed. The aliens were thrown into confusion, and Ashley took full advantage of the situation. Peering through the scope of her sniper rifle, she targeted another alien and put it down. It crumpled to the floor in front of the med lab before self-incinerating. She signaled to her team and advanced, just as Vega and his men appeared from a corridor on her right flank.

There was no time for words. They linked up seamlessly, and moved into the labs. The last remnant of Cerberus had created a barricade in the corner. They were guarding a metallic cylinder. There were only five soldiers left standing, and three aliens were moving on their position. Ashley shouted a command and opened fire on the enemy. Two crumpled to the floor as they were each hit by dozens of rounds, and the third, which had made a move to get through the Cerberus defenders, was taken out by Vega's shotgun blast. The Cerberus soldiers stepped away as the aliens began to burn.

For a brief moment, Ashley considered shooting Hadley and his crew, but it wasn't the right call in her current situation. If any aliens remained, she'd need every hand that could hold a gun and aim it. She motioned to her soldiers to stand down. Cerberus did likewise.

"Good timing, Captain," said Hadley.

Ashley was unable to hide the disgust she felt. She glared at the Cerberus soldiers. Hadley looked away from her stare.

"Yea, I know, you don't have to say it," he said.

Vega moved forward, and looked down into a glass window at the top of the cylinder, and then reacting as if someone struck him across the face. He staggered backwards, reeling.

"FUCK!" he screamed.

He leveled his weapon at Hadley. "What did you do to her?"

"James, stand down," said Ashley.

"Fuck that," said Vega. "That's the Commander in there, Ash, it's Shepard, and they've..."

Vega broke down, his speech disintegrating into a barrage of Spanish slurs that Ashley didn't understand. He kept his shotgun pointed at Hadley and looked dangerously close to pulling the trigger.

Samara approached the cylinder. Unlike Vega, she didn't glance away after she peered into it. Instead, she set her hand on the glass as if she were trying to touch Shepard.

"My friend," she whispered.

"I know your face, pendejo, you were one of her crew. She hauled your ass out of the Collector Base, and you let this happen to her? I ought to grease you right now," said Vega.

Hadley hung his head in shame.

"We'll let the Council decide what to do with them after we bring them back, but until we're sure all of these aliens are gone, we'll need them," said Ashley.

"Ma'am, the com channel is clear now," said Turay.

Ashley nodded and opened a channel. "Cortez, what's happening out there?"

Cortez replied through heavy static. "The enemy is destroyed, but we lost the Deliverance. She's adrift in orbit, and we're picking up survivors. The Brilliant Wind is on the ground near the base, and the Salamis is in bad shape Captain. I don't think we can make a jump to FTL without repairs."