Lazarus Project: Mass Effect 2 (Shenko)

Chapter 36

Milky Way/Shadow Sea/Iera/Horizon

Earth year: 2185 CE --- July

"But Commander, I've almost cracked the problem with the calibrations." Zima protested.

"Chief," Kaidan began, continuing to follow Zima to the docking platform. "You've been telling me that for the past three weeks. There has to be something interfering with the system. That, or we need some kind of super-computer to fix it."

"But sir..."

"Enough Zima." Kaidan said, holding up his hand to ward off any more protests. "You and Lieutenant Dlaney both need a break. We need to rule out the possibility that something native to this planet is causing major interference with the GARDIAN's targeting laser. You and Dlaney will take the Nomad and scan the planet in sweeps. I don't care if it takes you all day. I want this ruled out. We need to show the colonists the Alliance hasn't wasted their time and resources with a gun that doesn't work."

"Sir, the planet has already been scanned." Tanner reminded him as they joined her at the Nomad. "Several times."

"Not by us." Kaidan retorted. "Scans or no scans I want this done and I want you both out there in the next twenty minutes. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir." They replied in unison.

"Good. If you need anything, you can reach me via omni-tool. I have a meeting with one of the colonists, a woman named Lilith."

"You can count on us sir." Tanner said, stepping aboard the Nomad.

"I know Lieutenant. Happy hunting."

Kaidan waited on the docking platform as the Nomad powered up and went through their pre-flight checks before taking to the air. He watched as the shipped disappeared over the horizon, beginning their scans on the far side of the planet – as far from the colony as they could get.

When he could no longer make out the ship, he headed back to his meeting with Lilith. So far, she was only one of a handful of colonists who would speak to them. As he entered the perimeter, colonists were bustling about, stepping around him like a rock in a stream, completely ignoring his presence. When he found Lilith, the look on her face was one of relief and he hurried over to find out what was troubling her.

"Commander. Just the man I wanted to see."

"Not the kind of greeting I'm accustomed to around here." Kaidan replied.

Lilith let the comment slide as she continued walking in the direction of the communication tower. "Our communications have gone down." She said. "We have someone checking on it now."

"We need to get those guns calibrated." Kaidan reminded her.

"Sorry Commander, but communications take precedence over the Alliance's planet defence system."

"I'm surprised I haven't been blamed for that too." Kaidan muttered.

"It's nothing personal Commander." Lilith said, stopping to face him. "People here just don't trust the Alliance."

A loud sound interrupted Lilith as lightning flashed overhead in the cloudless sky. Both turned to look up where huge black clouds were forming high above them. As they watched, the largest ship either had ever seen appeared, accompanied by undulating clouds of black whose movement resembled a flock of birds.

"What is that?" Lilith whispered.

Kaidan raised his weapon and sighted down it into the rapidly darkening sky. Through the scope he could see that the swarm of black was moving fast, heading directly into the heart of the colony. Alarmed, he took an involuntary step back. "Get everyone to the safe house!" He cried. "I'll cover you!"

Screams began echoing across the compound as the dark clouds parted revealing a massive ship heading straight for the centre of the colony. Kaidan tried shooting into the black swarm that he now saw resembled insects, but gave it up as pointless and lowered his weapon.

He reached out to take Lilith's hand to run with her to the safe house when one of the insects landed on the back of his neck. With a surprised cry of pain, he grabbed it and tossed it away in anger. As he moved to run, he felt his body go stiff and within moments was completely paralyzed, unable to move.

He watched helpless, as frightened colonists were pursued by the insect swarms, stinging and freezing them where they stood. Frustrated, he flared his biotics and felt the stasis field that held him weaken. With effort, he pushed harder trying to break it's hold. He could sense the ship somewhere above him, descending toward the centre of the colony. Whatever was driving that ship, Kaidan knew with certainty he didn't want to be standing here helpless when it landed.

Gritting his teeth, he flared his biotics over and over, trying to break the stasis field. After ten frustrating minutes of flaring and pushing against the field, it broke without warning and he stumbled forward with the abrupt return of freedom. Without a moment's thought, he activated his biotic barrier and shield armour and ran for the cover of the nearest building. The bug swarms were everywhere and he wasn't sure he'd have the strength to break the stasis a second time. As he ducked inside the building, he heard a thud and looked out to see several large, winged creatures with strange insect-like heads fill the space where he'd been only moments before.

"Prepare these humans for ascension. We are their destiny, their salvation." One of them said as the others began gathering up the bodies of the colonists and placing them in mobile, floating stasis pods. He watched in horror as people he recognized were gathered up and taken away. He didn't dare move. There were too many of them and the bugs were still swarming over the immobilized colonists.

Kaidan waited until the invaders had moved on, heading toward the centre of the colony where they'd landed and where they intended to load the colonists. He followed behind them, ducking into buildings as he went. He'd almost reached the heart of the colony where the GARDIAN laser and the ship was located, when he heard the distinct sound of a shuttle craft landing. Curious, he turned back to investigate when a lone insect stung him in the leg, freezing him in place. Guess that answers that question, he swore to himself. Biotic barriers are useless against these damn things.

Pain shot through him, hitting him between the eyes as his previous struggle with the stasis field caught up to him. For a moment he couldn't breathe and he focused on calming his racing heart and the throbbing in his head subsided. Twenty minutes passed before his head stopped pounding long enough for him to try breaking free of the stasis field again. He was almost free when he heard the unmistakable sounds of gunfire coming from the centre of the colony. He hoped it wasn't Zima and Dlaney trying to play hero, they'd be slaughtered.

Gritting his teeth, he gave one final shove of power into the stasis field and gasped as he broke free of his prison. He checked to be sure the way was clear before setting off at a jog to where the GARDIAN laser was located and the sound of gunfire steadily grew louder.