Recruiting the Quarian

[paragonsoldier]

As soon as Kasumi coaxes the door open, she, Shepard, Garrus and Jack duck through, out of Haestrom's punishing sunlight. Shepard's the first to spot the top half of a geth dragging itself across the floor towards them on its arms: she turns her assault rifle on the thing, spraying it with bullets. The geth collapses.

There are a lot of other dead geth in here. Also a lot of dead quarians. Their equipment and crates of supplies are scattered all around the large, low chamber. Kasumi's already at the door at the other end, waving her omni-tool over it. "No good," she says as she switches it off. "The controls on this side are damaged."

Well, where finesse fails, there's always biotic brute force. "Jack," Shepard says, "do you think you can..."

"Tali'Zorah to base camp. Come in, base camp."

Shepard looks up at the familiar voice. She sees a hologram flickering above an ancient console - the head and shoulders of a female quarian, shifting nervously in a way Shepard recognizes. She holsters her rifle in its maglock on her back as she approaches the console.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Tali asks, on the verge of panic. Shepard searches the controls on the console, arranged in an unfamiliar configuration and labeled with what must be quarian script. One of the buttons is flashing. It seems to be as good an option as she can find, so she presses it and is rewarded with an electronic chirp.

"Tali, it's Shepard," she says. Tali's flinch of surprise confirms that she's connected. "I'm sorry. Everyone here is dead." She looks over her shoulder to where Garrus is crouching as he examines a fallen quarian. Shepard turns back to Tali's hologram. "Any survivors must have fallen back."

Tali's gaze drops. "We knew this mission was high risk. Damn it." She looks up. "And what are you doing here, Shepard? We're in the middle of geth space."

"I was in the neighborhood," Shepard answers nonchalantly. "Thought you might need a hand."

"Thanks for coming, Shepard," Tali says softly. "It means a lot to hear your voice." In a moment, she's all business again. "Kal'Reegar and what's left of the marines got me into the observatory. From where you are, it's through the door and across the field. I got the data I needed and I'm safe for now, but I've got a lot of geth outside," she informs Shepard, jerking a thumb over her shoulder.

"Would it help if I brought in the Normandy?" Shepard asks. It's not as good for atmospheric maneuvers as its namesake, but it's more than capable of raining down fire on the Geth.

Tali shakes her head. "Doubtful. These buildings are centuries old. If you bring down heavy fire, this whole place could collapse on us."

Okay, guess that's not an option. Shepard just hopes she has other resources to work with. "Is anyone else still with you or are you alone out there?"

"Reegar had a team of marines covering for me when I ran for the observatory," Tali says. "At least some of them out there are still alive." She looks back behind her. "I can hear them firing at the geth outside."

Shepard wonders what kind of research data could be worth all this, but now isn't the time to ask that question. Her time would be better spent getting to Tali and saving as many of the quarians as she can. "It looks like somebody sealed the door against the geth, and the console is damaged," Shepard informs Tali. "Can you get it open on your end?"

"Let me see," Tali says thoughtfully, looking down. "Yes! I can do it. Here." She looks back up as the formerly locked door makes a clunking noise. "Be careful, Shepard. And please, do what you can to keep Reegar alive." Tali presses a control on her end, and the hologram blips out.

"Okay, people, let's go," Shepard calls to her squad. "Resistance is going to be heavy on the other side of that door. Stay sharp and move fast." Her companions check their weapons as they take up positions beside and behind Shepard. She opens the previously sealed door.

* * *

They duck out of the courtyard and into some sort of antechamber: Kasumi closes and locks the door behind them, in case there are more Geth Prime or drones following them. In front of them are three consoles, each beneath some kind of metal shutter. There's a door in the wall to the left. Garrus attempts to open it with his omni-tool, but shakes his head when his effots prove unsuccessful. "Locked," he says.

"Maybe one of the consoles will get it open," Shepard says, walking up to the one in the center. The layout is unfamiliar, but maybe she can get it open with her omni-tool. She switches it on and scans the console. After a few seconds, a more familiar holographic interface appears above the transluscent gauntlet on her arm. Familiar, but limited - there are only a few options displayed. One is "open all doors." Shepard picks that option.

The door unlocks. The metal shutters also lift, revealing a courtyard smaller than the one she just left but still of respectable size. It's also got a respectable number of geth. And at the other end is a large, four-legged construct Shepard recognizes. "Oh God, a Colossus!" Kasumi exclaims as the massive geth turns to face them.

"Get down!" Shepard orders her squad just before the Colossus fires an artillery shot in their direction. She follows her own advice, diving to the floor as the shot slams into the wall behind her. Despite Tali's misgivings, it seems the quarian construction has held up well: the wall is scorched and cracked, but it still stands.

"Ah! Definitely like old times!" Garrus observes as they dart through the door at the side of the room, staying low.

Beyond are a couple of sloping platforms, leading to a low wall that separates them from the rest of the chamber. Crouched against that wall is a male quarian in a red-and-gold environmental suit, gripping a rocket launcher and chancing an occasional look over the edge to check on the geth. Shepard quickly moves to join him, taking cover behind the wall just as he pops up and fires off his rocket launcher. There's an explosion and the sound of tearing metal.

The quarian crouches down again, facing Shepard. "Squad Leader Kal'Reegar, Migrant Fleet Marines!" he introduces himself. "We talked on the radio before that geth dropship arrived!"

Shepard nods. She picked up a radio off a dead quarian on her way in. At that time, at least a few members of Reegar's squad were still alive: it seems this is no longer the case.

"I still got no idea why you're here," Reegar continues, "but this ain't the time to be picky."

Something explodes against the wall between them and the geth: Reegar flinches briefly before turning back to Shepard. "Tali's inside over there," he explains, looking across the chamber. Shepard chances a look herself, although she can't get more than a brief glimpse before the geth start shooting at her and force her into cover again. "The geth killed the rest of my squad, and they're trying to get to her. Best I've been able to do is draw their attention."

There's another explosion against the low wall - attributable to the Colossus' heavy fire, almost certainly - and Shepard can hear the sounds of smaller projectiles hitting it. "Are you sure she's still alive?" Shepard asks, having to raise her voce to be heard above the din.

"The observatory is reinforced," Reegar answers. "Even the geth will need time to get through it." He chuckles briefly. "And it's hard to hack a door when someone's firing rockets at you. The geth are near platoon strength, but the Colossus is the worst part." He looks across the chamber. Shepard does the same. She sees the Colossus crouch and fold itself into a surprisingly compact lump of armor. "It's got a repair protocol. Huddles up and fixes itself. I can't get a clear shot while it's down like that. I tried to move in closer, and one of the bastards punched a shot clean through my suit."

Although the wound itself may not be all that serious, Shepard's well aware that the quarians' weakened immune systems make them very, very succeptible to infection. "How bad is your suit damage?" she asks.

"Combat seals clamped down to isolate contamination, and I'm swimming in antibiotics," Reegar answers gamely. "The geth might get me, but I'm not gonna die from an infection in the middle of a battle. That's just insulting."

Shepard has already taken a liking to Reegar: she hopes she can keep both him and Tali alive. "What can you tell me about the battlefield?" Shepard asks. There's got to be a good approach she can take, some kind of opening.

"The right side's got a catwalk with a sniper perch. You could wreak some havoc from there," Reegar points out, "but none of my men made it past the geth." Haestrom's shield-damaging sunlight is also shining down on the catwalk. It's too exposed for Shepard's liking. She hopes there are other options.

"The middle's got cover," Reegar continues, "but the damn Colossus has a clear shot at you the whole time, and you've got geth coming in from both sides. The left gives you some cover from the Colossus, but your ass is hanging out for the geth. That's how I got shot."

The left might be the best option, though: the Colossus won't be able to bring its devastating main weapon to bear, the geth will have a limited approach, and Jack's biotics can sweep it clean if the geth attempt to rush the squad on their way across.

There's one big problem, though. "Any ideas on how to deal with the Colossus?" Shepard asks. She's only ever gone up against those things while in a military rover: she can't exactly run it down and then blast it with a vehicle-mounted cannon while she's on foot.

"Standard protocol with armor-class units is to sabotage the shields and whittle it down, you know. Kill it with bug bites," Reegar explains. "But the repair protocol blows that plan to hell. You try to wear it down, it just huddles up and fixes itself. So whatever we do has to scrap that bastard fast. Probably means getting up close, past that cover."

"We need to get to Tali," Shepard says. "Got any ideas?"

"Just one," Reegar says. "I'm not moving so well, but I can still pull a trigger, and I've got a rocket launcher the sun hasn't fried yet. You move in close. I'll keep the Colossus busy, maybe even drop its shields. With luck, you'll be able to finish it off."

Shepard does not like the implications of this plan. "You've done enough, Reegar. You don't need to throw your life away."

"Wasn't asking your permission," Reegar responds, shaking his head. "My job is to keep Tali safe. This is our best shot," he insists, standing up and taking aim at the Colossus.

Shepard yanks him back down behind the wall. "We don't have enough people on our side for you to take one for the team!" she scolds. "Stand down!"

Reegar adjusts his position, but doesn't attempt to stand up again. "I'm not gonna stand there while you run into enemy fire! They killed my whole squad!"

"And if you want to honor your squad, watch my back!" Shepard returns. "I need you here in case they bring reinforcements!"

Reegar emits a frustrated grunt, but makes no other protest. "All right, Shepard. We'll do it your way. Hit 'em for me!" He salutes with his rocket launcher. "Keelah se'lai!"

"All right, people," Shepard says to her squad. "We're taking the left. Jack, sweep them if they try to rush us. Garrus and I will pick up any lone stragglers. Kasumi, you watch for any trying to come up from behind. When we get to the Colossus, I want you to overload its shields. Garrus, snipe it. I'll pitch in. Kasumi and Jack can cover us from the rest of the geth. Clear?" Her companions nod in agreement. "Let's do this."

* * *

The Colossus explodes in a ball of fire and chunks of metal, to the sound of Reegar's triumphant battle roar. Between them, Shepard, Garrus, Kasumi and Jack pick off the few remaining geth troopers, clearing a path to the observatory door.

"Just a second," Tali's voice says over the quarian radio Shepard has clipped to her belt. "I locked the door to keep more geth from getting inside." The door makes a clunk noise. "There. That should do it."

Shepard opens the door. On the other side is a long, dim, relatively narrow chamber with old computer banks in alcoves along the walls. Tali's standing at the other end, her back to Shepard, doing something with a control panel.

"Just let me finish this download," she says as Shepard approaches. A moment later she looks over her shoulder, then turns around suddenly. "Garrus! I haven't heard from you in..." She falls silent upon seeing the scarring and cybernetics on the right side of his face. "Keelah. What happened to you?"

Garrus' mandibles twitch in what Shepard has come to recognize as the turian equivalent of a smile. (The one on the right doesn't move quite as much as the one on the left.) "I had a fight with a gunship," Garrus answers. "It lost. Thanks to the Commander," he adds, inclining his head toward Shepard.

Tali turns to her. "I should thank you, too. If not for you, I would never have made it out of this room." She sighs, her joyful demeanor sliding into despondence. "This whole mission has been a disaster. I wish I'd joined you back on Freedom's Progress, but I couldn't let anyone take my place on something this risky."

"What can you tell me about your research here?" Shepard asks, wondering what information could be worth so much risk and sacrifice.

"Haestrom's sun is destabilizing," Tali answers, activiating her omni-tool and pressing a few buttons. A holographic representation of Haestrom's sun, about the size of a grapefruit, appears above her arm. "Back when this was a quarian colony, this was a normal star." She switches off the omni-tool. "It shouldn't change that quickly."

"Any idea what's destabilizing the sun?" Shepard asks. She supposes it's too much to hope that this can be chalked up to a random fluke.

"If I had to guess," Tali hazards, "I'd say that it was dark energy affecting the interior of the star. The effect is similar to when stars blow off mass to enter a red giant phase, but Haestrom's sun is far too young for this to be natural."

Shepard's not sure whether that was worth all the dead quarians she saw on her way here. "A lot of quarians lost their lives here. Was it worth it?"

Tali looks at her feet. "I don't know, Shepard. It wasn't my call." She looks up again. "The Admiralty Board believed the information here was worth sacrificing all our lives for. I have to believe that they know what's best."

Shepard's been in military service for quite a while: she knows that kind of statement is a polite way of masking doubts about the motives and sanity of those further up the chain of command. "I didn't ask what some admiral thought. I asked what you thought."

"A lot of people died here. Some of them were my friends," Tali answers bitterly. "All of them were good at their jobs. That damn data better be worth it. The price was too high."

Shepard hopes the data was worth the sacrifice too - in no small part because she doesn't want Tali to lie awake at night, wondering whether she killed her comrades for nothing by following orders. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad I could help." After a brief pause, Shepard adds, "Once you deliver that data, I could use you on the Normandy."

"I promised to see this mission through. I did," Tali replies gravely. She activates her omni-tool again and presses a series of buttons. "I can leave with you and send the data to the Fleet. And if the Admirals have a problem with it" - she shuts off her omni-tool decisively - "they can go to hell," she concludes with a dismissive wave. "I just watched the rest of my team die."

Tali walks past Shepard, towards the door she came in through, but stops in her tracks when she sees Kal'Reegar limping in. "Maybe not the whole rest of your team, ma'am."

Shepard feels chagrin at having left Kal'Reegar to drag himself over here in her rush to get to Tali, but neither of the quarians seems to mind. "Reegar!" Tali exclaims joyfully. "You made it!" She bounds over to him and gives him a relieved hug. A somewhat bemused Shepard and her squad trail after.

"Your old captain's as good as you said," Reegar informs Tali. "Damn Colossus never stood a chance."

"If need be, the Normandy can get you out of here, Reegar," Shepard offers.

Reegar shakes his head. "The geth didn't damage our ship. Long as we get out of here before reinforcements show up, we'll be fine."

"Actually, I won't be going with you," Tali tells Reegar. She sounds a little regretful, but only a little. "I'm joining Commander Shepard."

Shepard is somewhat surprised when Reegar doesn't protest. "I'll pass the data to the Admiralty Board and let them know what happened," he says. He turns to Shepard. "She's all yours now, Shepard. Keep her safe."

Shepard nods in agreement. She's not sure how well she can manage that, given the circumstances, but she has no intention of losing her friend all over again.

* * *

Tali joins Shepard and Jacob in the Normandy's communications room. Given what Shepard knows about Cerberus' recent history with the quarians, she made sure it would be Jacob here and not Miranda. He's still Cerberus, but he's...less overt about it.

"Cerberus saw footage of you in action, Tali'Zorah," Jacob begins. "We're looking forward to having you on the team. Your engineering expertise will really benefit the mission."

Shepard doesn't think that's a bad start, but evidently Tali is not accepting complements from Jacob. She walks past Shepard to stand at the end of the table opposite Jacob. "I don't know who you are, but Cerberus threatened the security of the Migrant Fleet. Don't make nice."

"That's why you're here, Tali," Shepard interjects. "I need people who aren't Cerberus - people I can trust." She can actually trust Jacob, or at least she thinks so, but only to a point.

Jacob, looking somewhat uncomfortable, places his hands on the table and rocks on the balls of his feet, as if he's getting ready to fight or flee. "I wasn't part of what happened to the Migrant Fleet, but I understand your distrust. I hope we'll get past that as we work together."

Tali turns to Shepard and closes a few steps of distance between them. "I assumed that you were undercover, Shepard. Maybe even planning to blow Cerberus up." Her voice is stern, and gives Shepard flashbacks to her first meeting with Kaidan in Milliways. "If that's the case, I'll loan you a grenade. Otherwise I'm here for you. Not for them."

Shepard relaxes, a little. "If it helps, check out the Normandy while you're here. We've gotten a few upgrades."

Jacob chimes in with "I'll get Tali'Zorah the necessary security clearance to access our systems."

This seems to get Tali to warm to Jacob a bit: some of the tension leaves her stance as she faces Jacob. "Please do. I can't be part of your team if I don't know how the ship works." She moves toward the door, but seems to remember something, and stops partway to turn and face the commander. "Remember, Shepard, these people thought enslaving Thorian creepers and rachni was a good idea. I'll be in engineering." She continues on her way out.

The communications room door whooshes open and Tali's about to step through it when Jacob says, "Don't forget to introduce yourself to EDI, the ship's new artificial intelligence."

Shit, Shepard thinks.

Tali may be wearing a mask, but the look she gives Jacob before she leaves can't be mistaken for anything other than an unfriendly glare.