~ NEW FILE ENTRY ~
Commander Andreas Sheppard Journal.
N7 Service Number : 5923-AC-2826 - REACTIVATED
Commanding Officer (CO) - SSV NORMANDY SR1 - DESTROYED
Commanding Officer (CO) - NORMANDY SR2 - ACTIVE
Normandy / Galaxy Core / Collector Station
May 3rd 2185
Rebirth + 21 (days)
LOG ENTRY 22.0.0 - Mission Time Stamp : -0/2/00/00 (days/Hours/Mins/Secs)
We are going to launch the mission into the Omega4 Relay... We are heading there now; We will be there in 2 hours. I stood in the ICC watching over the empty bridge; it sadden me that it had come to this, I had hoped we would never have to pursue the Collectors but I know we must.
I am going to go up to my quarters and rest; make some plans and think...
Supplemental 22.0.1 - Mission Time Stamp : -0/1/30/00
I think I've made all the plans I can, but the restlessness is just getting to me; I don't know what to do or what I can actually do until the time comes; hopefully we can stop what ever we meet on the other side of the Relay.
*Background noise - sound of Quarters door bell*
Someone is here. I will finish this later.
Supplemental 22.0.2 - Mission Time Stamp : -0/00/30/00
Tali has just gone to get ready for the mission; she stopped by my Quarters, mumbling and stammering and nervous as hell... she explained she had taken Immuno-boosters and drugs, I knew what it meant and I placed my hand on her arm, she quietened down and I could feel the heat off her cheeks even through her visor. We spoke for a few minutes; she was nervous about me seeing her face, but when I removed her visor... she... she was beautiful...
She pounced on me and..well.. you can guess what happened...
Supplemental 22.0.3 - Mission Time Stamp : -0/00/10/00
We have arrived in the Omega System and are on route to the Relay. I decided I would go speak with the Illusive man. He wished us luck and I even asked him if he wanted to come; but he declined...if he did I would have probably thrown him out the airlock en-route... He still wished us luck; after all this is the fate of the galaxy in the balance.
Supplemental 22.1.0 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/00/00
We are entering the Omega4 Relay... I guess this is where all our preparations come to pass; will they be enough? will I be able to bring everyone back? We will see.
Supplemental 22.1.1 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/01/30
The phrase 'Edge of your seat' doesn't come close to what just happened. The moment we cleared the Relay, we were straight away in the middle of millions of wrecks of ships. Joker put us into a tight dive and managed to dodge the wrecks; they must have been millions of years old, Eons of civilisations traversing the relay and none of them making it through... Without the IFF they stood no chance.
We arrived in the centre of the galaxy, a huge black hole at the centre filled most of the backdrop; everything slowly inching closing to it. EDI pointed out the collector base, hanging in a perfect orbit of the Black hole. Its Mass Effect field must be powerful but then again, they created the Relays... who says they couldn't do this.
We are starting to move closer nice and easy...
Supplemental 22.1.2 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/05/00
We thought we had been moving in nice and easy but we must have activated some sort of Security even with our Stealth systems on... I am pretty sure that is the reason why a number of these wrecks are destroyed.
Drones... 3 or 5 of them came out of the wreckage and began firing on us. Joker took us into evasive manoeuvres but in the ship graveyard, it was pretty hard. I felt useless... I just stood there behind Joker watching him avoid the drones. He did his best but we took several hits, One directly to our plating but caused no major damage; I was glad we upgraded the Hull.
When we thought it was all behind us, one of the Engines took a hit; no damage but they were hitting too close. I told Joker to give them a few volleys. Garrus set the rounds in the gunner's bay and we watched most of them shatter into balls of fire; joining the wrecks around us.
However one managed to evade and launched itself down into the Engineering Deck. I ordered Joker to lose or destroy the rest while we head down and destroy it. Garrus, Tali and I took care of it and we rushed back to the bridge, Joker had a daring plan and took us through a dense part of the debris field. The Kinetic Barriers took a beating, and with the sudden shakes and groans I was glad I asked Tali To upgrade them.
With the Kinetic Barriers down to 40%, we had to be careful; we could go as low as 30 without significant damage occurring.
The Final drone tried to attack but we easily took it out as we cleared the debris field. We were going on a full blown attack towards the Station, when an 'Old friend' appeared; the Collector Vessel.
We were not going to hold back this time, I ordered Joker to pull the caps off all the weaponry and fire.. Show them how they like to be bullied around.
The New Thorax Cannons Garrus installed worked like a charm, we gave them everything we had and we severely damaged the Collector Vessel. I ordered Joker to pull around and finish them off... We destroyed them but the EM and Explosive shockwave was way more powerful than we expected and we were caught in the Blast.
With the Mass effect Generator down, we crashed into the surface of the Station. Luckily no casualties.. EDI says she can repair the ship but it will take time; hopefully we wont need a quick escape while inside the station.
I am gathering everyone for a briefing before we move on. Hopefully we are not stuck out here.
Supplemental 22.1.3 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/10/00
Well the meeting is over ad we are just about to head off; I'm going to put a quick log down to state what happens while I will update the log on the move.
We scanned the station and found a huge energy source in the centre of the facility; this has to be the power core, if we blow this it will destroy the entire station. Several shafts lead to the core; we will have 3 teams: One 3 Man teams led by Myself while Garrus takes all the others through the other end. I will take tali and Zaeed with me.
We are also sending a Tech through a vent that when at the other end will open the doors for us and allow both teams into the main facility.
I Gave them all a speech, the usual Sheppard speech; Save the crew, save humanity and save the galaxy.. I never knew how good I was at speeches.. If I make it through this I am becoming a speech writer.
Supplemental 22.1.4 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/30/00 (Enter Base)
We are moving through the base now, turns out the vents were not as we expected; they heat up pretty badly and Legion was trapped in certain sections so we had to push through the Collector forces that defended the area to unseal the doors for him so he could unseal them for us... We are trying to push to the doors now; once this is clear the rest of the teams will be able to get here
Supplemental 22.1.5 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/35/30
We are at the doors, it is heavy and we are being pushed by both sides; Garrus's team doesn't sound as well either. I took a hit to the shoulder but the Med-Gel I am pumped with is keeping me going. WE are about to be attacked by Seeker Swarms but Legion managed to open and lock our doors when we get through. However Garrus is having trouble. I told Legion to open their door and once the team was through, Thane and Garrus covered the door with me while Legion locked it.
I almost dropped my weapon when I saw Garrus get hit... he said he was okay.. Legion did pretty well.
Supplemental 22.1.6 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/40/00 (Holding Area)
We found the pods where the crew was being held, we even found a survivor of the colony, or a colony.. I think I recognised her from a file that passed my desk; However we were too late for her, something inside the pod began to eat at her flesh, as if eating her from the inside out... it was horrible.. We had to crack open the rest of the cells.. Luckily we managed to get the cells open.. If we had been any longer they too would have been dead.
Kelly and Doc Chakwas are relieved.. I asked Joker if the Normandy could do a pickup and he told us they could send the shuttle but not to our current location; they would have to be picked up further back.. .I couldn't risk leaving anyone or going back.. so I sent Jacob with them; he could exfil and take care of the Normandy while we are gone.
Supplemental 22.1.7 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/00/45/00 (Seeker swarms)
We checked ahead and the sensors show that the way ahead is blocked with Seeker swarms while the main way is heavily defended. Garrus told us he could lead the team down the main way while we tried to get through the swarms; but Morden told us that the defences we had wouldn't work here... there are too many in there. However Miranda and Samara told us a Biotic could create a force field and protect us.
I agreed and told Samara to come with Me and Legion while Garrus takes the others.
Supplemental 22.1.8 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/01/01/30
We barely made it out of that room, I don't know how we survived that. We moved slow at first; protected by the biotic field. We fought down Husks, Abominations, Collectors and Scions. We even fought off yet more "Harbingers", if I found the real one here; I have a det-charge for his face...
Samara was getting weak so we had to hurry; making a bounding retreat and running to the end in fire and cover formations... We managed to get to the door and Samara left the collectors a little going away present to give us a few moments... She burst a huge Biotic wave and knocked them all the way back up the long bridge.
Legion opened the door and we fired at the Collectors while the team moved in. Garrus took another hit but he is okay.. I slapped him around the mandibles for it.. he should stop scaring me.
We found ourselves in a large room with a platform, just as we were checking it out; EDI reported that the crew made it to the Normandy without any casualties; I was glad... Now all we have to do is blow this place.
Supplemental 22.1.9 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/01/05/00
We checked the platform and we could take this to the main console and overload the base... However the Collectors were right on our ass, Miranda suggested holding here while I take a strike team with me.. I told her it would be a good idea; I chose Tali and Garrus; these two have walked into hell with me already so this wont be any different.
I turned and gave them a speech, the collectors were a threat to everyone.. we were fighting for everyone.. this was the last step... a last moment.. win or lose it would be right here.. I told them to make me proud.. make themselves proud..
I swear.. I saw Grunt cry at that speech, they all cheered and began to prepare for their defence.. I hope they all get out of there alive.
Supplemental 22.2.0 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/01/30/00 (Platforms)
I swear I will never step onto something like these platforms again... I am so sick of them spinning around its like Zero-G training all over again...
I hated Zero-G training.
We fought through Collectors, Husks, Abominations and more Scions... Harbinger was throwing everything to stop us.. I just hope we have enough ammo.
We are detecting a power source up ahead.. its not the power plant.. I wonder what it is..
Supplemental 22.2.1 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/01/35/50
You have got to be fraking me... a Reaper... a Human.. reaper.. They are pumping Human cells into it... this must be how they create reapers...it is.. disgusting.. I'm not even waiting for anyone's opinion; we have to destroy it.
Supplemental 22.2.2 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/01/44/30
We managed to shoot off the tubes and let the Reaper fall into the depths of the station.. Now was the chance to set the bomb.. While I set the bomb, EDI told Tali that the Illusive man was trying to contact us.
He actually wanted to keep the base... not destroy it.. a Timed Radiation burst could kill just the collectors.. Never.. this place is an abomination.
I cut off Illusive man and shut him up.. we don't need the base... if we did I wouldn't even use it then... No honour in this place..
The charge is set.. in ten minutes it will explo...
What the fuck.. Shit.. Tali!!.. Get down.. Garrus.. Fire on the eyes.. the eyes..
*Static*
Now.. in the mouth.. fire.. FIRE!
*Muffled grunt*
Fuck.. Take it out now!.. Grenade out!
*explosion*
Shit.. shit.. garrus.. Tali..Tali!.. Hold on! I got you..
*static*
Supplemental 22.2.3 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/01/53/00
(Charge set at 00/01/45/30 - Time Till Detonation : 00/00/02/30)
Shit.. I think.. I broke a rib.. Or.. two.. or.. five.. The platform was hit.. the bloody reaper sat up and attacked.. shit.. Garrus..
*Sound of shifting wreckage* Oh thank the gods.. wait.. Tali.. TALI!
Oh thank gods you are alive..
*Beeping - two minute warning*
Shit.. quick.. out of here.. now..
Supplemental 22.6.0 - Mission Time Stamp : +00/02/30/00 (Normandy)
Well, that log will have to be cleaned up for future history, we managed to get back to the Normandy and jump from the base before the explosion occurred. the ground team made it alive and we actually found information..
Harbinger wasn't a collector.. it was a reaper... controlling them. We are just cleaning up the Normandy now, I reported to the Illusive man, he aunt happy but I don't care; I told him its my way from now on...
Joker came over and handed me a sensor reading he found inside the base; it had been sent to us by Harbinger... Reapers.. thousands of them.. coming...
*tali's voice in the background...*
"Put down that pad Sheppard and come to bed"
Erm.. The missus is calling.. I Better go.. Commander Sheppard Signing off.
*Tali's voice again*
"Don't call me your Missus"
*Static*
AFTER ACTION REPORT
Omega4 Relay Traversed
Collector base destroyed
Collectors Destroyed
Human Reaper Destroyed
Crew rescued
Team brought back alive.
Information on Reaper arrive found
Normandy under Repair
Giving everyone the weekend off...
Heading to Ilium to see Liara and help her.
~ END OF LOG ~
