Chapter 13 - Chapter 13. The Battle over Terra Nova

Right, I've made a few changes to the Bring Down the Sky story. Hope you enjoy it. Future chapters may not be as frequent as usual due to the Easter holidays being over.

Chapter 13

The Battle over Terra Nova

As soon as the Normandy cleared the Mass Relay the asteroid was already in sight.

"Status: Sensors reveal three fusion torches propelling Asteroid X57. At its current rate of acceleration, the asteroid will collide with Terra Nova in approximately 4 hours." Said the Normandy's VI.

"No time to lose then." Said Austin as he hurried down to the cargo bay. Liara and Tali were waiting for him.

"Into the Mako. Better not to use the Drop ship for this mission. Don't want the Batarians knowing it's the Helldivers until later." He said.

They climbed into the Mako and secured themselves in place, waiting for the drop.

"Analysis: Torches must be disabled to cease the acceleration." Said the VI.

Then they suddenly intercepted a distress call.

"Hello? Hello? I heard your transmission. Can you hear me?" it said. "They haven't found me yet, but I can't talk long."

The cargo bay doors opened and Austin put his foot down on the accelerator. The Mako drove forward and dropped onto the surface of the asteroid.

"Please. Shut down the fusion torches or we're all going to die. God, I hope you're hearing this." Said the distress call.

From inside the Mako Austin could see the fusion torches. As they got nearer to the first one however, several auto turrets appeared and fired on the Mako. The turrets though where easy to dispatch. Once that had been dealt with, the team disembarked and headed into the building.

Even in first room there where many dead bodies. Austin took out his assault rifle and Liara and Tali did the same. As Austin had expected, as soon as they opened the door they were greeted by three Batarian soldiers. To make matters worse, they had Varren with them.

The Batarians where surprised at first when they saw Austin. Helldivers where the one things that Batarians feared. One of them immediately ordered the Varren to attack.

Austin managed to gun down one of the Varren but the over pounced at him but Austin quickly reacted. He instantly drew out his sword and sliced the Varren in half. Some of its blood splattered onto his armour.

The Batarian soldiers opened fire on the team and they instantly dove for cover. Austin had to admit that it felt nice to fighting Batarians again. They now didn't seem so much of a push over compared to what he had been dealing with over the past few days.

Two of the Batarians where caught in Liara's singularity which she had managed to prefect since last time. Tali meanwhile, was able to disable their shields, giving Austin the opportunity he needed to fire on them. There were only a few soldiers in the room, so the battle was over quickly. A quick trip up the stairs brought the team to the torch control. At first, Austin was nervous that the decryption would be heavy. He quickly saw however that it was easy. Even today, Batarians still seemed to use rather old and out of date technology. Once the torch had been deactivated, the voice from the distress call they had heard earlier came over the radio.

"I'm reading that the first torch is shut down. Was that you? Can you hear me?" it asked.

Austin went over to the console and accessed the comm.

"Who are you? What's going on here?" he asked.

"My name's Kate Bowman. I'm an engineer. I was part of the team assigned to bring the asteroid to Terra Nova." The voice replied. "We were attacked yesterday by Batarian extremists. I've been hiding since they arrived. I think they know the torch went out."

"Any idea why they're here?" Austin asked.

"I don't know. But if this asteroid isn't slowed, millions of people on Terra Nova are going to die." Kate replied. "If I find anything I'll— I've gotta go good luck."

The signal ended. Austin turned back to his team mates.

"Let's move. We've still got two left." He said.

As they made their way downstairs and to the exit however, Austin's suit suddenly detected a life form in the next room. When they opened they saw a man with a gun standing in front of the door. As soon as he saw Austin, he fired at him. Fortunately, Austin's shields absorbed the shot.

"Oh god. I'm so sorry! I didn't realise you were a Helldiver. Are you hurt?" the man asked.

"Don't worry. It takes way more than one shot to put a helldiver down." Said Austin.

"Guess I'm not much of a soldier." Said the man. "I should've checked before I fired."

"It's alright. I know you're scared, but I'm here to help. I'm Commander Shepard." Said Austin.

"Simon. Simon Atwell. I'm the chief engineer on this rock." The man introduced. "Listen – we don't have much time. The Batarians fired up the fusion torches. You've got to shut them down before we hit Terra Nova! There are four million people down there, Shepard. Including my family."

"Tell me something I don't know." Said Austin.

"One of the torches is surrounded by live blasting caps. We were set up to excavate when we arrived at Terra Nova. I rigged them with proximity detectors. That tank of yours will set them off, so you'll have to go in on foot. Even then, they'll explode if you get too close. Just go slow and easy and you should be fine." Said Simon.

"Can't you just shut them off?" Austin asked.

"Not from here, no. One last thing, Commander. I had a crew working off-site when the attack hit. I'm worried about them." Said Simon.

"The torches are our main priority. But I will look them." Said Austin.

As they approached the next torch, Austin could see the proximity mines. He and the team got out of the Mako and proceeded on foot. The only thing that slowed them down slightly, where more Batarians, but they were easily dealt with. Inside the building there where even more, once again though they were simply gunned down like the rest. Austin quickly managed to disable the second torch.

"Are you there? You've got to hurry. You've really pissed them off." Came Kate's voice again. "Their leader's setting charges everywhere. I think he's going to blow this whole facility."

Suddenly another voice came over the radio. And it wasn't a human one.

"Get away from there!"

"Don't shoot. Please!" Kate pleaded before the signal cut out.

As they entered the second building there was once again more Batarians. This time though there were more, and they were better armed. Fortunately though, it was nothing that they couldn't handle. The last torch was offline in no time. As they made their way back down however they found more Batarians in their path.

"Hold it right there! This doesn't have to end in bloodshed!" said one of them.

Slowly, Austin and his team approached them.

"Don't come any closer, Helldiver." Said the leader. "We can do this the hard way, or we can end this peacefully."

"Odd. I didn't think you animals knew the meaning of the word." Said Austin, still keeping his gun out just in case.

"Look, I'm just doing my job here. Hijacking this rock wasn't my idea. I signed on to make a little profit. A quick grab. Nothing more."

"You expect me to believe you? When millions of people are going to die you expect me to believe that this was just for the money? What a pathetic excuse!" said Austin angrily.

"Don't you think I know that? Said the leader. "I'm just following orders here. If it where up to me; we'd have left by now."

"Well then. Just this once, it is up to you. You can still walk away now." Said Austin.

"I don't think so, Helldiver. Balak would skin me alive and sell my hide." Said the leader.

"Balak? I should've known he'd been behind this." Said Austin. "I'm done talking."

Austin pointed his gun at the Batarian leader.

"Damn it!" Austin shot the leader, the rest quickly followed.

"You know this… Balak, Shepard?" asked Tali.

"He and I have run into each other twice. Plus he's a very old enemy of the Helldivers." Said Austin.

Austin looted the dead batarian leader and found a pass key.

"Balak's hold up in the main facility. Time to pay him a visit." He said.

The main facility was heavily defended, so much in fact the Mako sustained quite a bit of damage and the Team where forced to abandon it and take cover on foot. At the last minute however, a massive shot appeared from the sky and the remaining turrets where destroyed. Austin looked up and saw a very welcome sight. In orbit above Terra Nova and the asteroid was a small Helldiver fleet. The team watched as several Hellhound drop ships and Gunships descended from the Carriers. As they touched down, some of the seemed to be carrying their own rovers, and even what looked like turrets. As they were deployed however they seemed to sprout legs and walk. They looked like crabs with guns.

As the lead Gunship touched down, a ramp opened and several helldiver soldiers disembarked. They noticed Austin and saluted.

"About time you got here boys." Said Austin happily. "Who's your C.O?"

As he asked this, a familiar Helldiver disembarked from the Gunship. Austin saluted at the sight of his mentor.

"Shepard! Good to see you again!" said General Zartrack.

"General." Austin greeted. The two Helldivers shook hands. "It's Balak, sir. He's back."

"Balak? I knew it! We haven't seen or heard from him since Elysium." Said Zartrack.

"He's held up in the main facility and he has hostages." Said Austin.

"Then we do this the old fashioned way!" said Zartrack.

Even inside there seemed to be a whole army of Batarians. It took twice as long to deal with them. Once they did, Austin heard a familiar voice. He turned round and saw his old Batarians nemesis, Balak. He wore read plated Batarian armour to indicate his leadership. He also had a large scar across his face, which Austin had given many years back on Elysium. He was also missing an eye. Once again that was another injury that had been because of Austin.

"A Helldiver! I should've known. Who else would've…" Balak however stopped when Austin turned around. "You!"

"Hello, Balak. Long-time no see. How's the eye?" Austin asked.

Balak winced slightly, remembering the pain of when the Helldiver had stabbed out his eye with the same sword he carried today.

"You'll pay for that, Shepard. Still, I left my own mark on you. How's your face?

Austin remembered the long scar on his neck. Balak had scared him first with a combat knife. This was what had caused Austin to retaliate by cutting out Balak's eye.

"Good actually. Still, at least now we can pick up where we left off, and this time I'll do more than cut out an eye.

"I don't think so, Shepard! You've interfered with my plans for the last time. No more will you and your pathetic Helldivers continue to slaughter my people. I'm leaving this asteroid. If you try to stop me, I'll detonate these charges and your helper and her friends are all going to die." Said Balak.

"Over my dead body, Balak! I'm not letting you get away this time! No after everything you've done!" said Austin.

"What I've done? This is nothing compared to what you do to my people!" Balak shouted.

"What do you expect when you try to enslave another race?" Austin asked.

"Because of humans like you, we've been forced into exile. Forced to survive on what we can scrounge up. It's been like that for decades." Said Balak.

"Don't waste my time making excuses! Your kind brought it on themselves when they left the council and tried to enslave a race that belonged to one of the largest military groups in the galaxy! What did you expect?" said Austin.

"We didn't pull away, we were forced out. When we asked the council for aid, they ignored us. As for the slavery, we're just returning the favour to humanity in the best way we can. Just too bad that those insects that you serve disagreed. That's why I attacked you at Elysium, why I'm doing this now. You forced my hand." Said Balak.

"You attacked us first. You even managed to anger the Arkanes in the process. You've got no one to blame but yourselves. Besides, how does killing innocents make up for this?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Shepard. How many Batarians did the Helldivers slaughter on Torfan?" Balak retaliated.

"Our way of returning the favour for your slavery!" Austin answered.

"Enough! It's obvious that you don't want to understand. I'm done wasting my breath with you Shepard. Now if you want your friends to live, I suggest you step aside." Said Balak.

"I don't think so!" came a voice behind Balak.

Balak whirled around to see a whole army of Helldivers uncloak right in front of him, all with their guns pointed at him.

"Balak. You are hereby placed in our custody for crimes committed against the Helldivers, the Arkanes and the human Systems Alliance." Said Zartrack.

"I have the controls to those bombs. Release me! Or I detonate those bombs and the hostages die!" Balak ordered as he activated his omni tool.

A female Helldiver however suddenly uncloaked beside Zartrack.

"Actually, they won't. With all the times we've clashed with your species, we would've thought you'd learned by now: we recue hostages over capturing you."

Balak tried to activate the bombs, but nothing happened. He snarled at Austin who also pointed his gun at Balak. He then somehow smiled.

"Well, actually, I do learn!" he said.

Balak pressed his omni tool and suddenly the whole parts of the stairway seemed to explode. Balak had booby trapped them. The whole blast knocked every Helldiver off of their feet as where Liara and Tali. Austin however wasn't and was merely temporarily blinded by the blast. Once he could see again, he saw Balak running for the exit.

"Oh no you don't!" he yelled.

Austin unsheathed his combat knife and threw it at Balak. The knife caught the Batarian in the left shoulder. Balak groaned in pain as the knife stabbed through his shoulder armour. As he collapsed his head collided with the door control. It malfunctioned and the only exit out was locked.

Balak slowly stood back up and pulled the knife from his shoulder. He snarled at Austin.

"You've got nowhere to run, Balak. That's the only way out and I doubt you can override the lock as fast as I can knock you out." Said Austin.

"You're right. I can't." said Balak. He held out his right wrist and activated his omni tool.

"We're not gonna do this again are we?" Austin asked annoyingly.

"I believe you humans have an old saying for your swords: An elegant weapon, from a more civilised time." Said Balak as his own Batarian version of an Omni Blade flipped out of his omni tool.

"I warn you now, Balak! If you challenge me to a duel you'll end up losing another eye." Austin tried to persuade.

"If this is to be last battle, I'll take you with me!" said Balak as he went into a fencing stance. "To the death. Let's see if your senses are as sharp as your sword."

"If you insist." Austin also went into a fencing stance and slowly unsheathed his sword. He left hsi shield on his back though. This was a duel, so he wouldn't be needing it.

Balak lunged at Austin and their swords clashed. Back and forth they clashed against one another. Balak had lighter armour than Austin and therefore had better speed. Austin however was more skilled in fencing and had more experience than Balak did. Also Balak had to attack with his wrist due to the omni blade, so his parries and attacks weren't as coordinated or flexible as they could've been. For a moment the two combatants backed off, each searching for the slightest hint of weakness in their opponent's guard. This time Austin was the first to strike, sending a quick jab at the Batarian's throat. Balak raised his omni blade for an easy counter but at the last second, the Helldiver twisted his wrist downwards, intending to deliver a crippling slash across her opponent's leg. The next few minutes passed without incident. Both duellists clashed several times.

Liara and Tali slowly regained consciousness. In the background they could hear swords clashing. They noticed some of the Helldivers where still alive. In particular, General Zartrack was pinned by debris.

"General, are you alright?"Asked Liara urgently.

Zartrack groaned slightly and then allowed Liara to help him up.

"Don't worry, Dr. T'soni. I've had worse." He said.

Balak and Austin continued to duel one another. With both being equally matched opponents it was more a case of trying new tactics. Austin had resorted more to defence and was trying to find a weakness in Balak's attacks that he could exploit. Metal blade met orange blade in an almost dazzling display of swordplay. Austin's sword wove an intricate web of angles and curves, never truly fast but always just fast enough, each motion of his blade subtly interfering with Balak's strikes and lunges. This tactic was starting to pay off. Austin could tell that Balak was tiring, his breathing was becoming ragged and his attacks where slowing. He on the other hand still wasn't even breaking a sweat. He had done fencing even as a teenager, which as a result had made him very durable and able to fight for long periods. Back then though it had only been as a hobby. Zartrack's training had made him study fencing even more to the point where he had been said to be one of the best Helldivers with a sword. The only thing that did still make him second place to Zartrack was that the General always used martial arts in his sword play. Obviously though, he never used those arts when training his students since it was always unfair.

Balak snarled furiously at Austin continuing to effortlessly dodging or parrying his attacks. Eventually though he overloaded Austin's defence. That however was his undoing since that had been the move that Austin had been waiting for. He used his defence to attack. A subtle shift in the angle of a single parry brought his sword right across Balak's face, once again giving him another scar. This time on the left side of his neck.

Balak broke away and brought his left hand up to the now bleeding wound. Austin pointed his sword at Balak.

"It's over Balak! I missed your other eye on purpose. Don't force to kill you. Surrender now." He ordered.

"Never!" Balak yelled as he thrust again.

As the minutes passed in a flurry of parries, counter-attacks and sweeping flourishes Balak felt himself beginning to tire to the point of his arm feeling very heavy, and the sweat from his body causing the inner bits of his armour to stick to his skin didn't help. Ordinarily he could fight for hours without feeling any fatigue, but his already drained body was being pushed to its limit just to keep on a level footing with Austin. It was obvious to him that the Helldiver was the superior swordsman by far and only a clumsy mistake on his part or a healthy dose of luck on Balak's would result in his victory.

Apparently fate wasn't on the Batarian's side. As he parried a particularly vicious blow from Austin, he felt his foot catch of one of the tiny ridges formed where two plates of the metal floor met. Having to concentrate to prevent himself falling gracelessly to the floor, the Batarian wasn't prepared for Austin's follow up attack. By the time he saw the blade stabbing at his face, there wasn't time to put up any kind of proper defence. Instead, he desperately swatted at the sword with his omni blade, hoping to at least deflect the thrust to a less fatal part of his anatomy.

Austin's thrust missed Balak's ear by millimetres, glancing off a bit of the fountain behind him instead. Balak's arm however had ended up too far outwards and Austin was a fast reactor. With a swift movement of his arm, he swung his sword toward Balak's blade arm. He raised his sword just enough, and the blade scraped across his wrist, damaging his armour and at the same time severing a part of his omni tool.

Balak's blade flickered and then diapered. Without another, the Batarian now had nothing to fight Austin with. It was over.

Silence engulfed the room. Blinking and dazed, Liara, Tali, Zartrack and the remaining Helldivers that had managed to survive Balak's bomb traps hurried over to the sound of the fighting to see Balak backed against a wall, weapon less, his neck bleeding and Austin's sword a mere inch from his throat. The sudden calm was punctuated only by the sound of laboured breathing.

"I've won, Balak. It's over! Just accept that." Said Austin.

Balak groaned.

"Alright. You win. I surrender." He hissed.

Austin lowered his sword, twirled it once and then placed it back in the holster on his back.

Two Helldivers walked up to Balak and placed him in cuffs.

"Get him out of my sight." Zartrack ordered.

The Helldivers marched Balak away. As they did, the Batarian glared back at them.

"Once again you've proven that I taught you too well." Said Zartrack as he patted Austin on the back. "We'll secure the rest of the sight. You can tell the hostages that they can come out now."

"Thank you, General." Said Austin.

The rest of the Helldivers disbanded. Simon then appeared and walked up to them.

"Commander, that was… I saw the whole thing. That was incredible." He said.

"Good to see that neither my skills or my blade have gone rusty. Has the asteroid been averted?" Austin asked.

"You did it. Another hour and our course would've been irreversible. Thank you for saving all of us." Said Simon.

He walked over to a door. Austin followed.

"Is Kate in here? Is she alright? Is her team?" he asked.

"I should think so." Austin answered.

"Shepard, thank you. For all that you've done." Said Simon.

Austin went over to the control panel and opened the door. Kate and the rest of her team where inside.

"I can't believe you managed to save us. I thought with you being a Helldiver, you'd sacrifice us to go after Balak." Said Kate.

"That's not what Helldivers do. We value human life over Batarian deaths." Said Austin.

"You sound just like my brother. He was always so stubborn but at the same time always willing to do the right thing." Said Kate.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could've saved him too." Said Austin.

"It's not your fault. You did what you could. At least Aaron died in a place he loved. He was the one who convinced me to join the team here. Said it would be an adventure. I—I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I should see to Aaron." Said Kate.

"I understand. I'll get out of your way." Said Austin.

"Thank you—huh, I don't even know your name." said Kate.

"Shepard. Commander Shepard." Said Austin.

"Thank you, Commander. You're not exactly what I expected, but thank you." Said Kate

"I'll leave you now. So long Kate." Said Austin.

"Thank you for all you've done, Commander. Goodbye."

"You did well down there, Shepard. Not only did you save the asteroid and the colony of Terra Nova, but you also managed to capture Balak. We've been hunting that Batarian for too long." Said the lead councillor.

Austin had now returned to the Normandy. He was now just being congratulated by the Arkane Council.

"I'm just glad I got there in time, Councillors." Said Austin.

"Once again you've done us proud, Shepard. We're certain that as humanities first Spectre, you'll make us even more proud. Good luck, Commander." Said the lead councillor.

The Council vanished and Austin walked out of the comm room.

"Oh, before I go, you said you're serving with Commander Shepard now? We saw him on the news here. He's cute. Later sis."

Austin walked up behind Ashley and overheard the last bit of her message. He had a feeling, he knew who it was. Ashley noticed him and turned to face her old friend.

"Tell me you didn't hear that." She said.

"I'm afraid I did. That was one of your sisters, I presume?" Austin chuckled slightly.

"Yep. That is until I get home and kill her. That was Sarah, the youngest." Ashley explained. "Surprised to see you here though, sir. Thought that you'd be chatting up, what her's name... T'soni?"

"Liara? What makes you say that?" Austin asked , a slight hint of confusion in hsi voice.

"Some of the scuttlebutt says that you got a thing for her." said Ashley. "I could understand. Crew's off limits with the rags agaisnt fraternization, and at least she looks like a woman."

Austin was about to clarify and say that it wasn't jsut a rumor, but Ashley changed the subject before he could say anything.

"So what's up? I take it you didn't come by to eavesdrop on family mail?" Ashley asked.

"Just came down for a little chat. Your family seems important to you." Austin replied.

"Yeah. Even when we were young we've always been close. Me and my sisters especially. With dad on duty so much, I had to help mum raise them." Said Ashley.

"I know what that's like." Said Austin understandingly.

"Do you and your father still talk?" Ashley asked.

"We send messages to another and occasionally we do see each other in person when he briefly returns to Arkadia. Most of the time he's always out in the Terminus systems and the Traverse keeping the Batarians at bay so much." Austin replied.

"With schedules like today it's a wonder we ever have kids anymore. Things were tense between my sister and me for a while, then we, bonded." Said Ashley.

"How so?" Austin inquired.

"Dad always wanted to serve in space. Yet he wanted us to have ground under our feet. He said space is beautiful and all but you can't raise a family there. I cannot rest from travel. I will drink life to the lease. All time I have enjoyed greatly, have suffered greatly. Both with those that love me and alone. For always roaming with a hungry heart. Much have I seen and known. Cities of men and manners, climates, councils and governments.

"That was... unexpected." Said Austin, a bit surprised at Ashley's sudden quotation of poetry.

"Ulysses was my dad's favourite poem. Every time he sipped out, he recorded me reading it." Said Ashley.

"Does he still like it?" Austin asked.

"I sure hope so. I read it to his grave every time I go home. Dad passed on a few years back." Ashley replied sadly. " Besides he's probably still watching though, so behave." Said Ashley.

"Come again?" Austin asked in confusion.

"You know, from heaven. Wherever that is. That's not a problem with you is it? That I believe in God?" Ashley asked.

"Your beliefs are your business. I'm your Commanding officer, not your moral compass." Austin replied casually.

"Just my comanding officer, huh?" Ashley asked, in a rather suggestive tone.

Now Austin finally got what Ahsley had been suggesting. She was trying ot hit on him.

"Look... Ashley, all that scuttlebutt around the crew is not just rumors. Liara and I both have a thing for each other." he said, trying to be gentle as he said it.

Ashley though didn't seem convinced.

"Sir, I only said that as a joke to tease you. I wasn't trying to suggest anything with that." she chuckled.

"And I'm being serious, Ashley." Austin said, putting particular emphasis on the serious tone in his voice.

"You... and her?" Ashley asked in both disbelief and shock.

"Is there a problem, Chief?" Austin asked. He was begining to worry now. Had Ashley bene attracted to him all this time? Worse still, had he jsut broken her heart by saying that?

"With all due respect sir, you're humanity's first Spectre. A relationship with an alien... it could cause a lot of controversy." said Ashley.

"Well they'll just have to deal with it." said Austin defensively. "Liara and I both love each other and I'm not going to let a title stand in the way of that."

"But..."

"And that's my final word on the subject, Williams." he added sternly.

"Understood... sir." said Ashley, but she sounded bitter.

Austin couldn't help but feel concerned as he rode the elevator out of the cargo bay. He could only hope he wouldn't regret this down the line. Perhaps Ashley just needed time to calm down from this. Most of this had clearly stemmed from her having a crush on him after all.


Next chapter will probably involve the rouge VI on the moon and also the mission where Cerberus murder Admiral Kahoku.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, also i hope the sword fight was okay. I'm a huge fan of sword fights and I do fencing as a hobbie, so it was very hard for me to resist the temptation to include sword fights in my story. Like to also point out that there will be another similar sword fight in the final battle an another in the next chapter, but in a way I'm sure you won't expect. Shepard will end up training one of his team to fence...

See you next time.