MrDidact

Mass Effect: Underworld

The Spectre glared right back at Vella, daring her to say something out of line and turning away when she didn't. He couldn't take a soft hand with this group, not until he could actually trust them. Though the chances of that happening before Sol went Supernova was rapidly plummeting to zero by the minute.

Aegon saw two troopers die instantly, torn apart into so much scrap and viscera by an explosive round. He was unfazed by the scene but was minutely annoyed by Gile's disregard for his orders. That would have to be dealt with. But later. However, credit where credit was due, it had been a stellar shot and now several nearby troopers were further stunned by the blast. At the same time, he saw another trooper get savagely hit in the head twice. His helmet was broken in half and he was out of the fight, but Aegon was unsure if the man still drew breath. His companion fared little better as Salissa steamrolled him with her shield and knocked him out. One man had his head ripped off his shoulders by Ellis while the behemoth backhanded another into a wall with a sickening crunch while causing another explosion. Aegon sighed internally. He could only hope the tunnel system didn't collapse on them. Luckily for them the hall remained mostly intact though it shook mightily and dust fell from the ceiling. Despite the sloppiness Aegon had to admire the results. Just a few moments and almost half of the troopers were already down.

One of the turrets had been destroyed by Ellis and Aegon had destroyed another. Aegon had to admit Vella had a solid idea when she disabled the optics on another two, causing the turrets to run a safety protocol and disable themselves in order to avoid friendly fire. That became redundant when Skarr destroyed them with his hammer and Rykarn wrecked the last two with skillfull grenade throws. More dust fell from the ceiling and Aegon shouted out, turning up his helmets loudspeakers, "Mind the tunnel! Go easy on the explosions! I don't intend to be buried here!" Despite the volume, Aegon couldn't be sure if Rykarn heard as he quickly and brutally took another three out of the fight. Then Skarr took down the last two just as hard. If they weren't destined for the morgue, then they'd be spending quite a bit of time in the hospital. Only three left. Might as well have some fun myself.

Normally he avoided these kind of theatrics but it might pay off to show them what he could do. The last three Cerberus Troopers were dazed, distracted, and discombobulated by the near constant explosions and quick defeat of their teammates. For just a moment their composure had broken and they didn't know what to do. That was all the time Aegon needed. He activated his jumpjets and charged through the air. He hired off a shot from his Mattock, the concussive round hitting one trooper square in the helmet and knocking him to the ground and out of the fight. The last two turned towards Aegon and he clotheslined one on the way with his rifle while he used the last Trooper as a landing pad, driving them both to the ground. His fist lashed out and knocked the trooper's head into the concrete while he twisted and kicked the last one in the face, cracking in his helm and knocking him out.

Aegon stood and nodded, "Good job team. They'll be coming for us now. Rykarn, Skarr, Ellis, Salissa, stack up near the doors. Giles hang back. Vella, Tiberius, you're midranks with me. As soon as they open those doors, whatever comes at it, we hold our ground and break them. Get ready." Aegon got into position, reloading his rifle and taking cover with a clear line of sight at the false wall while the team got into position. They didn't have to wait long. The doors popped open and all hell broke loose. The doors revealed a large hallway and another squad of Cerberus goons were on their way. Except this time, a dozen FENRIS mechs charged down the hallway at the team while the Cerberus squad had six Guardians in front with heavy shields and a Centurion lead another dozen assault troopers. In the distance they could see two Engineers advance, hurrying into position to set up more turrets. The worst was saved for last however. Behind them all stomped a YMIR Mech, making the ground shake with every step.

Aegon shouted, "Let 'em have it! Everything you have!" He popped in a clip of standard rounds and he wheeled around the corner, firing once and hitting a FENRIS Mech in the head, killing it and causing it to blow up in shrapnel to stun the other mechs and buy the team a few seconds of cover. The YMIR mech started laying down heavy machine gun fire at the rest of them while the Guardians slowly advanced and fired their weapons. Aegon narrowly dodged a stream of heavy rounds, he heard the tell-tale clinking of grenades as the Centurion and his squad launched a volley at the positions near the door. Aegon shouted, hoping the team would understand, "Grenades back in the hole!" The tunnel system proper was old and couldn't take much more punishment, but it seemed Cerberus had reinforced their base which could likely stand the force of heavy explosives. If they could give Cerberus their grenades back they stood a chance of not being buried alive.

Mass Effect: Underworld

@Mega Birb PM me and Sam, I figure we can make a story out of this.

Mass Effect: Underworld

@Mega Birb If you want to end the relationship it could become a plot point.

We should try to avoid retcons as much as possible.

Mass Effect: Underworld

I'm American as well.

Sorry for not posting folks, been a busy day, won't really have time to post till late tonight.

Mass Effect: Underworld

And then Aegon and Jake have to sit down the whole team and give them a long, serious talk about why it's important to use protection.

Game of Thrones : The Pact of Ice and Fire (Always Open)

Where are the rest of my faithful players?

Mass Effect: Underworld

@BlackSam3091 We could also change it to involve family fueds over an ugly chair or space monks with energy swords and eastern philosophy.

Side note, Aegon will refrain from all this shipping because he has a wife and kids ya dirty animals.

Mass Effect: Underworld

@Mega Birb Thankfully a childhood of Tom Clancy reading and console gaming has helped alleviate the worst of that for me. Hopefully.

Mass Effect: Underworld

Posted, should give the more loud team members a chance to have some fun.

Mass Effect: Underworld

Just when the situation seemed to calm an Alliance soldier came in with a Revenant and a snarl, asking what their business was. With her nonstandard armor, weapon, and facial features; Aegon quickly knew that this was Salissa and that she was late. Temper strained as it was, a number of impulses flashed through his mind and were discarded. His first initial thought was to reach for one of his talons and flick the dagger into the Marine's left eye, burying the blade deep into her brain. At this range, it was very doable. But Aegon recognized that this was not a logical decision, it was one borne of frustration, and immediately dismissed it. He then thought of berating the Marine but knew that she was still acting within reasonable SOP. His next impulse was to rest his face in his palm in exasperation but knew this would solve nothing and he could not demonstrate any weakness in front of this gallery of cutthroats.

At no point was he at all intimidated by the huge machine gun that could have ripped him apart. Instead he elected to let Jake handle it; he was Alliance and was more of a "people person", Aegon was surprised when Phalanx stepped in front of the group and made a mental note to add the odd behavior to the Geth's dossier. The Council would want to know about this. Jake handled the situation very professionally, talking down the Marine and getting her up to speed. Aegon appreciated that. But he didn't quite appreciate Jake's attempt to undermine his authority. He meant well Aegon was sure, but he was also proving to be naive. Jake would have to learn that being a Spectre meant making hard choices.

There was also still Aegon's sneaking suspicion that Jake was keeping an eye on him for the Council. Aegon and the Council often disagreed, and it would be perfectly in character for them to saddle him with a partner so they could know what he was up to. Not to mention they would know that he didn't particularly like having to mentor a junior operative who actually could countermand his orders. He wasn't sure but the whole thing could have been both an insult and a ploy. However Aegon didn't let any of his displeasure show, rolling with Jake's statements. Whatever disagreements they might have, it wouldn't pay for the team to be aware of it. He had to focus on the mission first. Besides being a test run for this team, this mission would also give Aegon a chance to see how his partner measured up.

Aegon only tersely motioned to Salissa to join the squad before returning the nod to Jake, appreciating the fact that his partner spared him the human platitudes. He motioned to his own fireteam and they were off. Aegon took point for now, leading them through tunnels choked with dust and debris. This path had been more accessible than the route the infiltration team took and it showed. The Reaper War had sent many resistance fighters and refugees scurrying to the underground for shelter and the evidence of their presence was keenly felt. Discarded rations, burned out fuel cells, empty crates of supplies, drained medi-gel syringes, more than a few shapes that suspiciously looked like corpses. During the final battle, the Underground had proved to be a life-saving shelter for many when the assault buckled. They could barely take a step without coming across what some civilian or soldier had left behind.

Half a mile from their objective, Aegon held up his fist and gathered the team into a huddle, speaking quietly, "We're almost at the front entrance. There will be sentries there, disguised, you won't see their arms or armor; but they will have them make no mistake. They may have automated defenses so keep an eye out. Ellis, you're in front. Distract them as long as possible while we get into position using all that debris as cover. Rykarn, Skarr, Salissa, you'll be the vanguard after Ellis. Try not to get spotted and once I give the signal, rush in and do your best to disable them nonlethally. If you need to, wipe them out. Same for you Ellis. Cerberus probably learned from the Reaper War and will have their troops outfitted with kinetic barriers, but they won't stop a fist or a hammer if you can get in range. Either way, soon after we attack, the doors will open and more of them will come, you heavies will get their attention while get the drop on them." One Krogan on the frontlines was bad enough, add another who happened to be a Battlemaster, a biotic powerhouse with heavy armor, and a Marine with an Omni-Shield and you had a nightmare of a vanguard element. He almost felt bad for the Cerberus soldiers.

"Vella, Tiberius, you'll be our biotic artillery. Stay at a distance and support the forward element as best as you can, do your best to put them down without killing them but don't put yourselves or the team in unnecessary risk. Giles, you're on overwatch with your sniper, take out anyone that poses a threat and can't be taken down with non-lethal force. I will be mid-ranks, putting flashbangs on them periodically and hitting them with concussive rounds. We hold the door and beat back the first few waves before moving deeper and keeping the pressure off of Anderson's team. You were all given blueprints. Ellis will have point once we go in, Tiberius you'll cover our six. We clear out all resistance cleanly and methodically with minimum collateral damage." He said the last with a pointed glare at Vella.

It was basic but it was solid, with room to adapt on the fly. And it kept the more troublesome members of the team where he could keep an eye on them. Once that was done he gave the order to move out, letting Ellis take point. Besides for Ellis, the team maneuvered quietly, well as quietly they could with two krogan. They stayed in the shadows and ducked between alcoves and debris large enough to serve as cover until finally they reached their destination. It was a wide open tunnel, almost as spacious as the one the team had met in, but more cluttered with junk to let the distraction team take cover. Fourteen men and women in shabby coats and rags huddled around fires, rubbing their hands and speaking in low voices. Several crates were spread around the group, too regular to be random junk. The space ended in a large wall seemingly no different from the rest.

Their coats were large but a trained eye could catch the telltale bulge of armor and weapons beneath them. Their posture was too rigid and their eyes were too alert. These were killers. And they all clocked Ellis moving forward with his bulky armor. All of their attention was focused on Ellis, and none of them saw the team taking up positions. Aegon loaded a flashbang into his rifle and waited as Ellis strolled up to the group. They were surprised, their eyes widening in shock then recognition. They evidently didn't take his presence too well as they all threw off their coats, revealing the telltale white and yellow Cerberus armor. Helmets snapped into place over their heads as they drew their guns and the crates, six of them in all, unfolded to display turrets which were still not yet erected. They shouted at Ellis telling him to raise his hands. One of them held a hand to his helmet and shouted urgently into his radio.

Knowing this was the only chance they'd get, Aegon keyed the team's comm channel thrice and wheeled around the corner of his crate to fire a flashbang square in the middle of the group, hoping Ellis was quick enough to shield his eyes. The Cerberus troopers were all instantly dazed and Aegon started shooting at the undeployed turrets, trusting his team to take care of the troopers while he focused on the turrets. They knocked on the door, now they would see who answered.