Chapter Text
Family Reunion—Miranda
Crouched behind a pallet of cargo containers, Miranda whispered to her comrades, pointing towards a full Eclipse commando company that was stationed near the elevator with an asari, obviously the leader, giving orders.
“That’s gotta be Enyala.” Vega whispered. “She knows we’re coming. See how she’s positioning her people?”
“Sniper on the catwalk at two o’clock.” Jodrum pointed out, “And there is a heavy weapons team located at that cargo sled. She’s definitely ready for trouble.”
“You got any ideas, Gears?” Vega whispered, turning his head towards the Reman engineer hunkered down on the other side of him.
“Hmmm…” Veril pondered the situation for several moments before responding. “I can set up some holographic projectors here…” she pointed to a side entrance, “and here.” she proposed, pointing to another entranceway. “They should provide a temporary diversion. Quantum mortar wouldn’t be a good idea unless we’re wanting to risk collateral damage.”
“We can’t take the chance on Oriana or her family being hurt.” Miranda declared, “And we can’t strike before Niket arrives with them. If he gets wind that Enyala’s under attack…”
“He’ll divert and we’ll lose him and your sister.” Vega finished with a grimace, “So we’re gonna have to be sure to check our fire.”
“Correct.” Miranda nodded, “No area effect weapons.”
“Plasma turrets set for pinpoint fire over here…” Veril pointed to a corner location, “and here.” she pointed to another choke point, “should catch them in a crossfire.”
“Good idea.” Miranda nodded before pointing out, “There is still the issue of the sniper though.”
“Don’t worry.” Vega replied, “I’ve got him.” Turning his head back to Miranda, the Alliance marine inquired, “So…how do you want to play this, Miri?”
“We hit them the moment Niket arrives with my sister and her family.” The Australian biotic responded, outlining her plan. “Stun and smoke grenades to cover me while I go for Oriana. The rest of you keep Enyala and her people off me long enough to get her and her family away.”
“Won’t work.” Jodrum shook his head, “The brief on Enyala is that she’s a good tactician. You’re making the mistake of underestimating her.”
“What do you suggest?” The Australian biotic retorted challengingly.
“I think I might have an idea.” Veril timidly interjected.
“Don’t be bashful, Gears!” Vega encouraged, giving the Romulan engineer a broad grin. “Tell us what you’ve got.”
“We could use the holographic projector to render images of us.” Veril proposed. “The holograms will appear as if they’re wanting to parley…hopefully getting Enyala to drop her guard just enough for us to take her by surprise.”
“Won’t she pick up on them being holograms?” Vega inquired.
“If they get too close…” Veril admitted, “Yes. She will.”
“So how do we keep her from getting too close too soon?” The Alliance marine asked.
“She’ll be wary…at least initially.” Jodrum pointed out, “That will buy us some time…not a lot…but it should be enough.”
“I’ll need you two to record your voice prints.” Veril instructed, speaking to Miranda and James. “The holograms are programmed to adapt to conversations—they’re not quite fully sentient, but close enough for our purposes.”
Complying with the engineer’s request, Miranda let out a breath. “All right. I’ll work my way towards the elevator. Niket will be bringing Oriana through there. When we strike, I’ll cover her and her family with a biotic shield.”
“Putting yourself on the line here, Miri.” Vega pointed out.
“No choice.” Miranda grimly replied. “Enyala will target them first. Hopefully, the combination of my personal shield, armor, and barrier will hold long enough to get Oriana and her family to cover.”
“Veril and I will draw the fire of Enyala’s guard.” Jodrum declared, outlining his plan. “While Lieutenant Vega takes out the sniper and then provides support for you. Hopefully, if all goes well, we can bring the operation to a successful conclusion.”
“You know what they say about the best laid plans when they come into contact with the enemy.” Vega cautioned, the salarian Spectre nodding in understanding.
“Then we will have to be ready to adapt.”
Satisfied by the salarian’s answer, Vega turned to the dark-haired woman next to him, “Miri?”
Miranda commanded, “Veril? Prepare your holographic projectors. Vega?”
“I’ve spotted a good location where I can take out that sniper and then offer you fire support.” The marine replied, pointing to a stack of containers.
“Then let’s do it.”
“I want everyone on alert.” Captain Enyala barked into her comm. “Those bastards have already taken out two entire companies.”
“We’re ready for them Captain.” A salarian engineer wearing Eclipse colors responded.
“Is everyone in position?” Miranda whispered into her comm from her hiding spot near the elevator door.
“Got the sniper in my sights.” Vega replied in a low voice, “What about you, Gears? Jod?”
“Ready.” The Spectre replied.
“Ready to go.” The Reman engineer replied.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Miranda commanded, “Activate the holographic projections.”
“Look alive people!” Captain Enyala called out to her forces as the two holographic images approached. Before they could draw too close to their position, the asari Eclipse captain barked out, “That’s far enough.” With a derisive snort, she taunted, “You’re the two who took out my teams?” Spying the skintight cat suit the Miranda hologram was wearing, the mercenary leader mocked, “You look like one of Aria’s dancers.” As she spoke, the elevator door opened, “That’ll be Niket and your family, Ms. Lawson. Pity they won’t be able to say goodbye to you, but the bounty on you is too good to pass up.” Pointing at the Vega hologram, the Eclipse mercenary issued a warning. “Lucky for you, there’s no bounty on you. You get a chance to walk away if you do it now.”
With an evil smirk on her face, Enyala, on seeing neither of her targets moving, sneered as she pumped her shotgun. “Thanks for making my life easier.” Firing her weapon, the captain’s eyes widened as the rounds passed harmlessly through the images. “What the fuck! Take the brat and her family out Niket! Now!”
On hearing the mercenary captain’s angry command, Miranda sprang into action. Ignoring the rain of fire coming from the Eclipse commandoes, the Australian biotic threw up a biotic shield around her sister and her family while simultaneously slamming Niket against the wall. She had just enough time to utter “Oriana…” as a lucky shot from one of the Eclipse mercenaries’ assault rifles pierced through shielding and armor, striking the raven-haired biotic in the small of the back, sending her bleeding to the floor.
“Miri!”
Gritting his teeth as he saw his friend go down, Vega growled into his comm, “Taking the shot” as he fired his plasma rifle at the Eclipse sniper who had fired the round that had brought down his friend, the green energy bolt impacting and piercing through the man’s shielding and armor, killing him immediately.
Simultaneously, Veril replicated a pair of plasma turrets before rushing to Miranda and her family, dodging ferocious fire from the Eclipse troopers. “Cover me, Jodrum! James!” the Reman engineer hollered as she went to work on her injured companion, administering a mix of pain killers and medigel.
“We’ve got your back, Gears! Take care of Miri and her sister!” James shouted back as he lobbed a plasma grenade at a salarian engineer trying to deploy a weapons turret while Jodrum calmly brought down a pair of Eclipse troopers with an incendiary blast from his omnitool.
“There’s only three of ‘em left standing!” Enyala hollered as she attempted to rally her troopers. “Put them down!”
“Bring it on, Puta.” Vega taunted back as he cut loose with a barrage of plasma fire, bringing down another mercenary. “Step on up, kids! I’ve got a lot more where that came from!”
“Tough talk, human. Let’s see how much you like this.” Enyala taunted back just before launching herself in a biotic charge at the Alliance marine, impacting head on with him, staggering him to the floor. “Time to die.” The Eclipse captain smirked as she pumped a fresh thermal clip into her shotgun and aimed it at the still stunned marine.
Enyala, however, neglected to take into account a certain quick-witted young Reman engineer, not to mention a cunning and creative salarian Spectre. Acting swiftly, Veril deployed an electrostatic field around Vega as Jodrum simultaneously encased the mercenary captain with a cryo-blast.
“Now, Veril!” Jondum shouted, “Concentrate fire!” The powerful fire from the pair’s plasma bolts converged, impacting on the frozen mercenary, the force of their intense blows shattering the captain as if she were a glass statue.
“They’re falling back.” Veril sighed, pointing to the retreating mercenaries.
“Their casualties have taken the fight out of them.” Jodrum noted, further suggesting, “Time to see to our wounded as well.”
“I’ll be fine.” James declared, shrugging off his companion’s efforts to tend to him. “I just got knocked around a bit. I can walk. Miri and her sister are more important. We should go to them.”
“Very well.” The salarian Spectre agreed as they made their way to their teammate, currently being tended to by her sister.
On seeing their rescuers, a middle-aged man heaved a sigh of relief, “Thank you.” He said, “I’m Kenneth…Kenneth Baker. This is my wife, Josie.” He introduced a middle-aged woman with brown hair.
“We’ve been taking care of Oriana since Miri dropped her off with us.” Josie declared as her eyes fell on the unconscious man sprawled out on the deck, “I can’t believe Niket was about to…” she choked back a sob, “Why?”
“We’ll find out when we get him back to our ship.” Vega promised as Veril knelt down next to the teenage girl.
“She’ll be all right.” The Reman engineer said with a smile as she ran a medical diagnostic. “Although she’s probably going to require a day or two in Medbay. If nothing else, Dr. Chakwas will insist on it.”
“Agreed.” James chuckled as the Australian biotic’s eyelids fluttered, signaling her return to consciousness. “Hey there, Princess.” The Alliance marine said with a smile as he looked down on the raven-haired beauty. “Have a nice nap?”
“Not really.” Miranda joked back with a crooked grin, “I was constantly kept awake by a certain marine’s continual bellowing.”
“Hey, Miri.” Oriana smiled down at her sister. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” The former Cerberus operative replied, “Now that you’re safe. Speaking of which…” she queried as a frown appeared on her face, “Is Niket still alive?”
“He’s alive and on ice.” Vega responded, “I figure we’ll take him back with us when we return to the ship. Let him and Neilana chat.”
Scowling, Miranda answered back, “I want what’s left of him after she gets through with him.”
“Consider it done, Princess.” Vega smiled as his Reman teammate cleared her throat
“We’re going to have to find a secure place to stay until the Gallena returns.” Veril declared. “Centurion Kev has warped out of orbit. He got orders to take out the Normandy.
“I’m open to suggestions.” Vega quipped.
A female voice responded to the Alliance marine’s remark. “I think I can find a place for you to hole up until your friends get back.”
“Matriarch Aethyta.” Jodrum stated flatly as the matriarch, flanked by two asari commandoes, entered the terminal
“The bartender at Eternity?” James replied in an astonished and disbelieving tone.
“Unofficial agent representing the interests of the asari Matriarch Council.” The Spectre explained before politely inquiring, “Why, may I ask, are you willing to help us?”
“Two reasons.” The bartending matriarch replied as another asari came in to assist with Miranda and her family. “First, the Council asked me to assist in any way I can so long as I kept it low key.”
“And the second reason?” James interjected.
“That’s personal.” Aethyta replied, “Now…do you want to get somewhere safe? Or do you want to stay out here with your asses hanging out?”
After receiving answering nods from his teammates, Vega replied, “What are we waiting for? Time to vamoose.”