章 156: Chapter 154

Because of the recent events, Shepards mission had now turned into a combined mission involving Ascendency and Alliance personnel. Because of the mission and who they were going up against, a team of Spartans consisting of a Captain Amythest Rose who specializes in assassinations, speed run and purging missions, infiltration and sabotage, and typically uses a heavy-duty Pulse sniper rifle, heavy duty energy rifle, and heavy-duty energy pistol. Her armor is pitch black with Void purple highlights and electronic glow.

She was chosen because she has completed numerous missions ranging from taking out traitors and corrupt officials to takeout out small rebel cells during the foundation of the Ascendency.

Next was Commander Jack Rodriguez also known as 'Reaper' was picked because of his combat history and expertise in Demolitions as a Combat Engineer.

After him was Captain Augustus "Cole Train" known for his unwavering loyalty and brute strength. Cole's impressive record in close-quarters combat and his ability to lead under pressure made him a great addition to the team. His preferred weapons included a modified heavy pulse shotgun and a Pulse revolver which packed a lot of punch.

Lastly was Commander Jack Cooper alongside his Titan BT-7274 or just BT for short. BT was packed within the Hanger of the Normandy and would be deployed only in emergency situations when they needed to pull out the Heavy guns.

As the team assembled in Normandy's briefing room, each member brought a palpable intensity and focus. Shepard outlined their objectives while together they reviewed their tactical approaches and escape contingencies. The stakes were clear: they needed to gather as much intelligence on the Geth operations and figure out how the Geth and the Reapers are connected.

Before departing, Dr. Chakwas who was now joined by an Ascendency Medical Officer held individual consultations with each team member. Shepard and the Alliance soldiers who would participate in conflicts were administered performance enhancers which would boost their physical abilities and cognitive functions during the mission. The enhancers lasted for 24 hours and required the person to eat a certain diet so that no side effects of the enhancers would develop because of constant use.

The Reapers were a threat to the entire galaxy despite majority of the galaxy not recognizing them as even existing. They were in denial that such a power besides the Ascendency could even exist. The Ascendency was already a powerful force in the galaxy, and whether or not they had the power to conquer the entire galaxy was still questionable considering the size of the galaxy.

Once everything was ready, the Normandy had set course for the edge of the Terminus Systems, where Geth activity had increased significantly.

While the Normandy was investigating the Geth activity, the Ascendency Intelligence Agency was also doing its own investigation of the Geth Activity. Scout ships were sent into Geth space to gather data on their movements and monitor their activity. They wanted to know why all of a sudden have the Geth started attacking Human colonies.

The object that was seen leaving the Surface of Eden Prime was caught on video and analyzed to get its exact size, shape, and potential function. The object in question was no doubt a ship, but it was far larger than any Geth ship and it matched Reapers ships from Shepards memories.

It didn't require much to connect the two dots and see that it was a Reaper ship leaving the surface of Eden Prime. The only question that remained was how are the Geth and the Reapers connected?

For a Month, the AIA observed Geth activity in both the Geth controlled space and near colonies that were attacked. There was something off about the Geth as they were behaving like they normally did in their own controlled space, however the ones attacking the colonies seemed to be searching for something.

The Quarian Republic, had also took an active role in learning more about the Geth's strange behavior and why they were out of the veil. Despite having centuries to advance themselves, the Quarians made sure to monitor the Geth to see if they would ever get a chance to reclaim their homeworld.

Using their knowledge of the Geth, it didn't take long before they came up with a theory. The Reapers from the information that they had are similar in a way to the Geth as they both consisted of Artificial Intelligences, though Reapers were on a vastly more advanced scale. The Quarians hypothesized that perhaps the Reapers could manipulate or even command the Geth, bending their collective will to serve as an advancing force for their own sinister purposes.

But if that was the case, then the Reapers could use the Geth to take control of the Citadel and force the Keepers to send the Signal which would allow them to come in from Dark space and harvest the Galaxy. Seeing as that was not the case and the Geth beyond the Veil were acting different from the ones attacking the colonies, the theory that they came up was, that the Reapers attempted to manipulate the Geth but it either didn't work or a few Geth had separated from the main Geth network and joined the Reapers.

This theory that was more than likely true had sparked a flurry of activity across various intelligence and military channels. If the Geth had indeed splintered, with a faction aligning with the Reapers, this presented both a significant threat and a valuable opportunity. The potential for internal conflict within the Geth could be exploited to gather more information or even gain access to their network.

Shepard and his team were updated with this new intel as they approached the outer sectors of the Terminus Systems. Their mission parameters adjusted; accordingly, now they not only had to scout Geth activity but also look for evidence of Reaper influence among the synthetics.

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya had joined his crew to assist with the Normandy's mission and because of her expertise on the Geth. Her knowledge could prove crucial in understanding how deep and how extensive the Reaper influence had penetrated the Geth network.

On the Normandy, Shepard convened with Captain Rose and Commander Rodriguez to discuss engagement rules. "If we encounter a split group of Geth," Shepard started, "we need to capture at least one intact for Tali to work on. Force should be minimal, enough to subdue but not destroy."

Rodriguez nodded, his gaze firm and understanding. "Understood, Commander. I'll adjust our explosives for non-lethal outcomes. We need them functional for analysis."

Captain Rose then spoke up, her voice steady. "And what about Reaper forces? If they are in play, how are we to engage?"

Shepard paused, weighing the gravity of their mission. "Reaper forces are a different story. We go hard and fast against any Reaper units. From what we know, they're not known for taking prisoners, and we can't afford to be subtle if they're involved. However, our primary objective remains the Geth."

As the briefing concluded, they prepared for the mission and made sure that everyone understood the mission.