Text 40 (Continue from Text 24)

“Do it.” She confirmed and heard the two shots being fired in rapid succession.
“Kind of light on the personal,  wouldn't you say?” Rick noted as they got up to the two downed Batarians.
“They're preparing to leave, perhaps they're centered around the landing pad?” Nash suggested.
“Rick's right. There should be more people here. And the battle scanner is showing some odd readings. Not all of the life signs here seems to be Batarian. Ken, can you follow us from up there?”
“There's a cat walk that seems to be leading to the next room. I'm heading over there now.”
“Alright,  you ready?” The two soldiers with her nodded. “Let's get going.”

- - - - - - - - - -
“Why the hell aren't they responding?” Shepard asked after trying to get in contact several times.
“Mountains, commander.” Garrus said. “They're usually an issue.” Wrex chuckled.
“Well, I guess we'll just have to go over them then.”
The Mako did a hard 90 degree turn and was now heading straight towards a mountain ridge.
Garrus shook his head and Wrex took hold of one of the bars inside the vehicle.
- - - - - - - - - -

“How does it look?” The captain stood with her back flat against a cargo box, holding her pistol with both hands.
“Minimum amount of guards. The scanner says four and it seems to be correct.”
“Alright,  maybe we can do this silently if we time it right.” She checked her scanner, following the blue dots. They didn't move in pairs so that made it easier, and the layout of these boxes provided them enough angles to take them down one by one without being noticed. She got Rick's attention and signed for him to head right while she took the left. Nash kept a eye on the scanner, staying behind.

“Wait.” Ken's voice came over the radio. “Something's happening. Damn.”
“What is it?”
“I think the guards we took out just missed their last call in. Two more just stepped through the doors. They know something’s wrong.”
“Do we try and stay quiet or do we open fire?” Rick asked. “We could let them pass to the previous room and continue on forth.”
“We'd just get them in our backs later. Take them out, but try to keep from firing. They don't seem to have us on scanner-”
A swarm och bullets interrupted her and she ducked lower behind the crate.
“Fire at will!” She cried into the radio and they all opened fire.
- - - - - - - - - - -

“Hello, hello is there anyone on this frequency? This is Commander Shepard,  if your getting this please respond.”
“Commander?” He heard a woman's voice crackling from the speaker. “I'm barely picking you up.”
The line was bad and there were noises of battle in the background.
“Captain Isis? This is Commander Shepard.  We're the backup. What's your situation?”
“I can barely hear you sir, and we're seeing some action on our side. If you're the backup they've sent you're needed, please hurry.”

Shepard cut the line and took a look around. He could made out the structure as an orange spot on the scanner now, but there were still mountain ridges in the way.
“Hold on boys, we're going in closer.”
- - - - - - - - - -

With a last echo of the sniper rifle the room was cleared from Batarians. They regrouped a few meters from the door leading to the next room.
“I counted ten of them.” Nash stated as he joined Rick and the captain.
“Ken, can you scout the next room?”
“Yeah, it's a bit trickier up here but I'll manage, just hold tight.”
“It's an odd number.” Rick stated, repeating his concern. “There should be more of them or less.”
“I bet there's more on the way.”
“Well I don't doubt that.” Isis stated.
“Who was it on the radio?”
“Backup, I think. The connection was bad. I only heard he was a commander.”
“Orders?”
“We keep going. Ken, how's the way forward looking?”
“Setting up now captain.”

The three of them waited patiently and Isis headed up to the door. Making herself ready for the next fight.
“There's more of them in here, but they just came through the door. I think they don't appreciate our presence.”
“We’ll go in with weapons hot. You ready?” She asked and both of the men nodded.
“Wait!” Ken shouted in a whisper over the radio. “Something's not right.”
“What is it?” Nash asked impatiently.
“Humans.”
“What?”
“There's humans with them as well.”
“Working with Batarian military?”
“I don't know, but they’re there and friendly with each other.”
“I guess that explains the odd readings on the scanner. Anyway, it doesn't matter. If they're on this base they're against us. We go in and shoot anyone aiming a gun at us. Clear?”
“Yes ma'am.” The three of the answered in a chorus.

She held up three fingers and counted it down without words. When she made the fist Rick hit the control panel and the door slid open. Nash and the captain went in with weapons firing and found cover fast. The return fire came within moments. The next round Isis popped up to fire her pistol overheated. She cursed out loud and fired up her biotics before ducking back, letting her shields recharge a little and switching switching to the assault rifle as well.

The continuous fire of the sniper rifle above their heads was comforting, in a way. While the sight of humans raising arms again them was a problem they had to figure out later. They made it easy for them though. Shouting, cursing, offending their mothers. This wasn't exactly law abiding citizens.

When the fighting died down they gathered up again. This time by one of the fallen humans.
“Everyone OK?” The captain asked and they only had scratches. Nothing a little medi-gel wouldn't fix.
“So what do we make of this?” Rick asked and Nash pulled up his Omnitool.
“All I get is that this guy's a criminal. Multiple sentences on battery, illegal weaponry, that sort of things.”
“What do you say captain? Humans working with Batarians?”
“Could be a temporary aliance or even a new gang on the market. We'll have to make sense of it later, we can't get any more intel now. What's important are those files. Come on. Let's push on, we need to get there before they take off.”
“We're close to the hangar now.” Ken's voice came over the radio. “The manning is heavier in the next room. Don't open the door until your shields and powers are charged.”

They didn't have to wait long. After entering they had a few seconds to spread out and position themselves before the firefight started. It was more brutal than the previous oposition.
“Fuck!” The captain cried out when her gun overheated for the third time. “We need to find a god damn countermeasure to these techs!”
“Captain! Check the door, now!”
Isis popped her head up and took a look at the door opposite to where they came in.
“What the hell? Turians?” She asked.
“Looks like it. And there not just one of them.”
“Shit. Keep it tighter people I don't want-”
“And a krogan! Oh shit.”
“What?” The captain hissed and returned fire. Indeed, there were a krogan along with three turians and more Batarians coming out the doors.
- - - - - - - - - - -

Clearing the next ridge the commander activated the radio with a sigh.
“This is Commander Shepard-”
“Sir? He got a clear response at once. I can read you loud and clear now sir.”
“Is this captain Isis?“
“Yes sir. Are you the backup?”
“Indeed. Did they tell you why they sent us?”
“No they didn't. But we do know now. We'd appreciate the help, right about ten minutes ago.”
Shepard didn't wait any longer, but started down the mountain at once.
“We've got the building in sight captain, we'll get there as fast as we can.”
“Ken! On Rick's right. Take out that turian before he gets any closer. And keep that God damn krogan at bay!” He heard the woman shout before answering him. “Appreciated commander!”
And he turned off the transmission.
“Well it sounds like they really need the help.”
“Why did they head out on their own when they knew backup was on its way?”
“I guess we'll just have to ask when we find them.”

When they arrived at the building they entered where the tram before them had left their vehicle. They didn't stop to admire the scenes inside but hurried through the cleared out rooms.
“At least it seems like they know what they’re doing.” Wrex commented looking at the bodies.
“Just not very hot on following orders.” Garrus said.
“Hey. No judging until we’ve sortet out the situation here.”
“Just saying that if backup was on its way they should’ve been ordered to stay put.”
“Not all orders are meant to be followed, Garrus.” Shepard smirked and enjoyed the confused look the turian gave him.

They heard the feint sound of gun shots and picked up the pace. They entered a room of chaos. The group of four had been overrun by enemy soldiers and was pushed hard, barely able to return fire while the enemy advanced. Shepards team engaged immediately. Their involvement changed the pace at once.
The captain, who was guarding one of her downed men, instantly started to fire with precision from her cover.
“We're glad to see you commander.” He heard her voice on the radio. “There's a man to your left, one of mine, if you could help him I'd be grateful.”
“We're on it.” Shepard waved Garrus over towards the captain while he and Wrex took to the left.

Garrus positioned himself in the back, climbing up on a couple of stacked crates. Getting both cover and a good overview of the battlefield. Enemies started falling for their rifles, shotguns och pistols. Every minute thinning out their ranks.
“Captain! The hangar doors are opening.”
“What?” She hissed and ducked behind cover, taking a look at the imaged produced by the Omnitool. Rick held up his arm for her to confirm the chain of events.
“We only got minutes.” He stated.
“We need to get through those doors.” Rick took his shotgun and handed it over to her. She received it with a nod “Ken.” She called and the sniper answered. “Focus on the doors to the hangar bay. Keep the entrance clear.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“What are you up to captain?” Shepard asked.
“We need to stop that ship, commander. I'm taking the first chance I get.”
“Alright, clear her a path Garrus. Wrex, keep our left clear.”