Jenkins
I double checked the heatsink on my rifle and pistol, ensuring there were no faults or errors in the weapon itself. I had fitted myself into some of the alliance combat armor, light weight as I wasn't trained in the heavier caliber of armor available to some soldiers. Of course that all tracked well enough, Jenkins was likely meant to be the engineer class, focused on mechanical interference and pistol weaponry. Light armor was the only option available for that class in the game.
I looked around to see Kaidan doing the same as me, but wearing the medium class of armor. He was a sentinel, according to the original game. Biotics and tech training. Powerful support combination. And then there was Shepard. She was calm and collected, her N7 armor a heavy duty model, combined with her ability in biotics meant she would be the vanguard class. Honestly there couldn't be much better of a combination for a deployment. 2 different versions of support aiding the powerful frontliner in combat.
Shepard was aware of that, coaching Kaidan and I quickly in the signals she wants for us to use our support skills on. Nothing complicated, following hand signs is common training in the alliance, these are just a few unique commands for us to keep an eye on. Mine mostly focus on my shield boost and damping ability, while kaidan keeps an eye out for commands for barrier and stasis. Of course rules of engagement in active combat we are free to make our own judgment calls, just must also be prepared to follow orders when given. We were all feeling as prepared as we could get as we felt the ship hit the atmosphere, barely more then a shake in the hull.
“Engaging stealth systems.” Joker's voice rings out over the comm here in the cargo hold. It take a moment before his voice rings out again, likely the amount of time it took to close the distance to the dig site where the beacon was found.
“Somebody was doing some serious digging here, Captain.”
Anderson steps up finally speaking to Shepard he gives the official command.
“Your team’s the muscle in this operation, Commander. Go in heavy and head straight for the dig site.”
“What about survivors, Captain?” Kaidan’s concern can be heard in his voice, but the question is one for our mission priorities.
“Helping survivors is a secondary objective. The beacon’s your top priority.” Kaidan gives a nod in response, stepping back into line. The hangar doors open wide, showing the ships position hovering over top of the colony site, roughly a hundred meters in the air. Jokers voice rings out again
“Approaching drop point one.”
I turn to Nihlus, as I watch him shoulder his shotgun and step forward. I knew what was about to happen to him, and once again I hesitated. Swearing in my head I figure I have to give it a chance. Even if it’s only once.
“Nihlus, you need backup for this one? We don’t know what we’re dropping into, even a Spectre can be surprised on their own.” Please request we drop with you Nihlus, the only shot you have of living through this is us.
“Have faith, kid. I move faster on my own, only Shepard would be able to keep up anyway.” It's the only response he gives before stepping forward and jumping from the open hanger door. I watch as he falls from view, knowing it's the last time we’d see him alive.
“Nihlus will scout out ahead. He’ll feed you status reports throughout the mission; otherwise, I want radio silence.” The captain's orders ring hollow in my ear, I acknowledge them, but I’m not truly listening. Nihlus wouldn't be the first person I would meet who would die. Over the next 3 years countless lives would be lost in the war to come, and I was going to try and live through it all. The guilt would have to guide me, lead me to succeed in saving as many as I could. But again a moment of fear takes me. What would I even be able to do, Shepard already saves as many as possible through the games, how could I even possibly raise those numbers.
“We’ve got his back Captain.” Shepherd's voice shakes me to attention as her hand slaps on my shoulder bringing me to attention. She gives me a look, bringing me back to the moment, and I nod at her before correcting my stance. There would be time for doubts and fears later, we had a mission to survive first.
Our helmets seal up, making the suit air tight. While Eden Prime has breathable air, the risk of chemical or biological weapons from unknown threats is always a risk. So sealed suits are standard procedure in every combat environment.
Anderson's voice calls out once more, “The mission’s yours now, Shepard. Good luck.”
The hanger door opens once more and Joker's voice rings once more signaling the start of everything that was to come.
“We are approaching drop point two.”
As the hanger door opens wide we step the edge, the ship comes to a stop over a clearing, just on the edge of our target dig site. I quickly swallow my anxiety, and lean on Jenkins’ combat experience. My nerves calm ever so slightly, and following Shepherds lead, the three of us step forward and drop to the planet below.
We swept the clearing, keeping our weapons out and ready. It was empty though. The green grass and trees familiar to those on earth filled this clearing, as well as a small pool of water fed by one of the planet's many creeks. From my Jenkins’ memories I could recall how similar the planet was to earth. Green land and plants, flowing water and a blue sky. Halfway across the galaxy and this place was a paradise similar to earth in its prime. There was a reason they called it Eden Prime.
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And it was burning.
The sky, that should have been a clear blue, was choked with thick black smoke and glowed red from the light of flames. I could feel the part of myself that was Jenkins, that thought of this planet as my home crying out. Where were my parents, were they safe.
“What the hell are those?” Kaidan's voice pulled me out of those thoughts as he gestured to the large creature floating just above the pool of water. Green and organic it was large and slow moving, but I recognized it right away.
“Gas bags. Don’t worry, they're harmless.” I turned away from the creature and fell into step behind the commander. Kaidan was quickly behind me as we were preparing to move out, keeping formation was second nature to us.
“This place got hit hard, Commander. Hostiles everywhere. Keep your guard up.” Nihlus’ voice rang out over our comms encouraging our quickened pace. The clearing we had landed in was naturally concealed from the colony by steep hills and large rock formations, however the creek followed a natural trail that led out of the clearing and in the direction of the dig site. Shepard took the lead with Kaidan and I following shortly behind.
Rounding the corner we got our first view of the settlement far in the distance, steel buildings washed in black soot and orange flames. At least a kilometer from the nearest settlement structure we had a good view of the city’s destruction. I turned away to focus on the path ahead of us, I couldn't watch my home in that state without losing focus. Following our path through the tree line we came to a narrow opening. We would have to squeeze through one at a time before continuing.
Shepard raised her hand to signal us to stop, before gesturing for me to take point. I take the lead keeping my rifle raised as I step through the opening and appear on the more exposed side. This was it, I kept my eyes on the path ahead, waiting for the drones that were supposed to take my life. I continued stepping forward, not bothering to glance back at where Shepard and Kaidan would be following behind me, they were not important right now.
It was fast and sudden, the pair of drones flew around the corner hard and fast. They were small, similar in shape to an eye; they were a metallic shell affixed to a camera or lens for viewing its surroundings. With a rifle hung below the main structure as the only protrusion they were small and indistinct. Both drones had their weapons trained on my position. Instead of raising my rifle to fire, I hit the button on my omni tool to activate my shield boost. As I did so I started stepping sideways fast towards the cover of a large boulder.
4, maybe 5, rounds from the drones struck home. Three across my chest, one to my right arm, and another off the top of my helmet. Thanks to my boosted shields they held up under fire, only cracking as the last two rounds struck my arm and helmet. The pain was instant and sharp, while the plasma round ricochet off my helmet it made a full impact on my right arm.
It thankfully did not breach the armor. The advanced plating and material converted the heat energy of plasma round into kinetic energy on impact dispersing across the area it landed. While it's great at preventing burns and reducing the max damage, it still only protects you to a point. As such I could absolutely feel the area it hit in my arm. While I was confident it wasn't broken, it still hurt like a bitch. Pain was a cheap price to pay though, I'd take being alive over dead anyday.
I adjusted my grip on my rifle, leaning around the corner of the boulder I had taken cover behind. I engaged the drone spraying one of the two with energy rounds. Shepard and Kaidan had fully cleared their way into space and were engaging as well, and quickly both combat drones were disabled and fell from the sky. They rested on the ground for a moment, before exploding again in a small burst of plasma, leaving little to no trace of the drone behind.
“Jenkins, you good?” Shepard calls out, rifle still raised in the direction the drones came from, waiting for more hostile targets.
“All good Commander, just a glancing blow. We should be mindful of covering move forward, I managed to hit my shield boost in time and they still ripped through them in only a couple rounds.” Kaidan walks up to where I had slid into cover and offers a hand, helping me to my feet.
“What the hell even were those things, I haven't seen a drone of that style used by any of the Traverse races.”
“They’re unfamiliar to me too, how about our resident tech expert? Any clue what we are dealing with before we push forward?” Shepard lowers her rifle as no more contacts appear, and walks over to join where we had grouped up.
“I’m not sure, but if I were to make an educated guess… I’d say that they're Geth.”
“Geth? They haven't been spotted outside the veil in centuries. What the hell are they doing here?” Kaidan’s reaction was harsh but I expected as much. By all rights there is absolutely no reason for Geth to be here. But I know things they don’t. The fact is we are dealing with a group of Geth that decided to worship and follow the reaper Sovereign. Not all the Geth agreed with that choice and remained in the veil, but that detail won't matter for a couple years still.
“Are you sure about this Jenkins? If these are Geth then this mission is already FUBAR. We need to find the beacon and evacuate ASAP.” Shepard, ever pragmatic, pushes for more intel. Can’t reveal too much but I need to make it believable.
"Am I sure? No, no of course not. By all rights it shouldn't be Geth. But they're the only race that I can imagine packing that kind of firepower into that small of a drone without anyone knowing about it. If it was one of the other races then word would have spread that something like this was at least in production, much less functioning for combat.”
She listens intently and stops to think for a moment. Evidently she comes to a conclusion, as she taps her comm channel and radios out to Nihlus and Captain Anderson.
“This is Commander Shepard, we’ve made contact with hostile drone units. We have reason to suspect they may be Geth in origin. Prepare AI protocols as a precaution. We are proceeding on route to the beacon.”
“Geth!? Dammit, understood Commander. Continue on course and maintain precautions.” Anderson’s voice comes back, followed quickly by Nihlus.
“Understood.” One word response, because he’s a goddamn professional.
“Jenkins, you're our engineer. Are you in good enough condition to continue?”
“Yes Commander, slapped on some medi-gel and I don’t even feel it.” I crack a grin that hopefully can be heard since our helmets conceal most of the face. Judging by the slight shake of the shoulders indicating a chuckle it got through just fine.
“Then take point, I want you to keep a mental note of whatever we encounter here. Your technical expertise will be essential when we file our report.”
“Yes Commander.” I raise my rifle and step back out into the open, moving up the trail towards the digsite. Kaidan and Shepard fall into step on my flanks. I managed to survive where I was supposed to die. Now all that’s left is the rest of a 80+ hour game franchise that takes place in a galaxy wide conflict over the course of three years. One that I’ll be at the center of thanks to my place aboard the Normandy. As I move forward I quell those feelings. There would be time to overthink my likely death later, for now I need to survive the rest of this mission.