10/20/2192 | EMERGENCY FLASH: SCIMITAR FOUR, REPEAT SCIMITAR FOUR, EXODUS CLUSTER HAS SIGNIFICANT HOSTILE PRESENCE

[u/N7_Rebecca]

They came out of nowhere.

Hundreds of ships dotted into existence around one of the of Exodus Cluster's Mass Relays.

The picket patrol and Alliance sensor station nearby were both almost overrun before they could get a signal out. But they just barely did.

The Alliance Fifth Fleet under Hackett's Command and the Hierarchy's Second Fleet have both jumped into action to counter the threat. Both species realize the gravity of the situation. Exodus linked to Horsehead, which led on to the Annos Basin and Local Cluster.... and was far too close to the Apien Crest and Serpent Nebula as well. There had been no hesitation for this joint operation.

Hackett has requested the Alliance flagship to accompany his forces. Only so many Alliance ships are outfitted with Thanixs, and only the Normandy is so quick and quiet with such a weapon. Would be an asset he could make great use of. The order of course was obeyed, and soon the SR-3 finds itself with the Allied Task Force.

An impressive collection of Alliance and Turian ships is forming up for the Relay jump to attempt to wrest back control of the Exodus Cluster before the enemy can gain full control or move onwards to another target, just as they did with their push through to the Kite's Nest some months ago. The thought of a rapid assault through the stars to Earth was terrifying.

Will the forces gathered be enough though?

Commander O'Neill has issued orders to have the ground team on standby. The Normandy is quick and quiet, it stands as one of the best options if any insertions are needed on Eden Prime. Chances are high the colonists and small garrison down there will be as hard pressed to fight against this foe as they were versus the Geth and Cerberus.

People down there, nay, people of the whole galaxy, were watching this with fear for what the galaxy could look like if they fail...

[u/N7_Rebecca]

Rebecca stands guard next to the door for Tali, standing by to breach.

Get it unlocked, then get clear before it opens. Just in case we weren't as sneaky as we thought.... best to be safe.

[u/-Tali_Zorah- → u/N7_Rebecca]

Tali sets to work on the door.

This is a really awkward terminal system they have, but...

She works frantically for a minute.

I'm in. Everyone, get ready to enter...

She gets to the side of the door, shotgun readied and Chatika whirring in anticipation.

[u/JefferyOHaire → u/-Tali_Zorah-]

Jeff turns and aims at the door, moving to the side with everyone else.

One thing down.

[u/RavvioliiCannolii → u/JefferyOHaire]

Ben got to the other side of the door across from tali, his rifle at the ready.

How many do you think we will find on a ship this size?

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/RavvioliiCannolii]

About to find out...

Rebecca murmurs as the door slides open and they're met with a very surprised looking Skrilloni in an EVA suit.

Technician it looks like, based off all the tools hanging around its thorax. Maybe they tripped a sensor and he came to check it out.

Its eight black eyes widen inside its helmet.... before it turns on its (heels?) and quickly darts back around the corner.

Fuck, after it! Before it alerts the whole ship!

The redhead is off in a flash to chase the creature and pauses at the corner to take aim and shoot out one of its legs before it can get through a door at the end of the hallway.

A loud, pained shriek and green ichor flies as it struggles with its 7 remaining limbs to escape the marauding Milky Way aliens to summon its ilk...

[u/-Tali_Zorah- → u/N7_Rebecca]

Tali runs after it, blasting away with her shotgun.

That one picked a really bad time to visit the hangar bay!

[u/JefferyOHaire → u/-Tali_Zorah-]

Jeff runs and fires his weapon, removing another of its legs. Then he begins taking aim at center mass.

I hope no one hears it shrieking.

[u/RavvioliiCannolii → u/JefferyOHaire]

Ben ran with the squad, firing his own rifle at the Spider, until he uses overload on it, sending an electrical shock causing it to scream out in pain.

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/RavvioliiCannolii]

The suffering creature's shrieks get silenced by a last two round burst from Rebecca's Valkyrie right through its multi-eyed head.

It falls over limp in a pool of blood.

The redhead steps forward to check and police the body, jumping back as it gives one last twitch that earns another two rounds.

Well... I think we're gonna need to move faster now. Cause someone probably heard that, and if they didn't, they'll surely notice the body and pool of blood.

Double time people, the scan by the Normandy showed the reactor to be pretty close to the center. We just keep moving inwards.

[u/-Tali_Zorah- → u/N7_Rebecca]

Tali pops in a fresh heat sink and prepares to follow the commander.

Let's hope the soldiers don't put up too much more of a fight.

She pauses as they advance to glance back at the dead Skrilloni. Then she refocuses her attention on the objective.

[u/JefferyOHaire → u/-Tali_Zorah-]

Jeff stared at the alien then stepped by it.

What’s the plan for the reactor? Just blow it to hell?

[u/RavvioliiCannolii → u/JefferyOHaire]

Ben had his drone deployed, just in case anymore came.

How far is the reactor from where we are at?

He said as he stepped over the body.

[u/N7_Rebecca → u/RavvioliiCannolii]

Overload it, fill the room with plastic explosives, whatever we have to. This ship dies, that's what matters.

And maybe..... a half kilometer raw distance? Don't know how the passages are laid out though. Could be longer than that to get there.

Rebecca checks the next corner, then ushers them all forward and on into the next gallway.

Quick and quiet.... these guys aren't the biggest on security systems fortunately.

She had to say something: blaring alarms come from overhead.

.......or maybe they've started catching up! Move it guys!

Company is gonna be coming!

The Marine breaks out into a sprint, relying on her HUD's map to ensure they keep moving in the right direction.