//------------------------------// // Security // Story: Mass Effect: Element of Kindness // by CommanderApplejack //------------------------------// Chapter 163 Security Gilda cursed under her breath as she was left alone, turning to the VI as her only companion. “Hey, I need that guide to the security office back.” ”Aknowledged.” The line re-appeared on her visor along with a little map showing a layout pokmarked with red dots. “What are those red spots for?” Gilda asked as she got on her way, the rifle clamped under a wing so she’d have all fours to move around on. ”Sensor arays have been made available, your position is being concealed by the central node.” The VI answered, making Gilda stop and jump into a hallway as she saw one of the red dots pass right by an intersection further ahead. “That’s useful to know,” Gilda admitted as she peaked out, finding nothing there. Swiftly moving on she slipped past the drones, having to be careful about not making too much sound in her bulky armor. The map around the entrance which she’d used to go in had red dots covering it all over, going through there would be an issue. The blue line though lead in a different direction than that place. “Mind filling me in on where we are going?” Gilda asked as she reached one of the chamber’s walls. ”The main entrance is occupied by more drones than you can statistically take on. The main node also has no control over that entrance.” The Vi replied, the wall hissing as it sunk inwards and slid out of the way. ”Maintenance routes and hidden passages have been made available. Be warned, main node has no sensor coverage in the unmarked passages.” “So no knowing if there are drones in there or not,” Gilda guessed, stepping forward into the hallway. The door closed up behind her. “And what about Fluttershy? She’s still in there!” ”The central node is evaluating her, no more information on the subject has been released at this time.” Grumbling a curse, Gilda didn’t push it further and moved deeper into the maintenance shaft. She got much more vigilant with checking each of the corners, reminding herself that she optimistically might be able to take out two of the drones at best with her ammo supply. “So question, how do you know these passages if they’re unmarked?” ”This data has not been shared by the central node.” “Of course... How far is it to the security office?” Gilda asked to change the subject again, the not getting answers part was starting to get really annoying to her. ”We are almost there. Sensor data shows only a light drone presence outside the security office,” The VI reported, another door opening up back into the regular hallways. A small drone immediately noticed her and charged its weapon, firing a bolt at Gilda. The griffin reflexively dove to the side to avoid the shot even though she was pretty sure the armour would hold it. Raising the rifle, Gilda lined up the shot and pulled the trigger, the drone sharing the same fate as the two small ones from before. She noticed that now with the armour her claws didn’t tremble as much, the weight of the rifle being partially held up by the suit’s strength enhancements. “Any more of those surprises?” ”A single heavy drone is located at the entrance to the security office. Nothing is detected within the office itself.” I should be able to down that thing, right? Two shots for that shield of it and one more well placed one to take it down. Gilda walked up to the corner around which the drone was waiting for her and ejected the thermal clip that was in her rifle, pushing a fresh one in as the current one only had two more shots left. Taking a deep breath, the griffin jumped around the corner and stopped to stare at the drone floating there. She’d expected one of the big drones but this was something else completely. The thing was a slight bit larger than the ones in the armoury only the thing had visibly stronger shields, better armour, and to top it off two of the massive cannons. Fuck me. Gilda might have hesitated a fraction of a second but the drone definitely didn’t, one of it’s two cannons nailed the griffin right in her chest and almost completely downed her shield. This did get her out of her moment of hesitation, forcing her back around the corner. “WHAT IN TARTARUS IS THAT?!” "A mark fifteen heavy drone, mainly utilized by-" "COULDN'T YOU HAVE WARNED ME?!" Gilda shouted briefly peaking back around the corner and firing the three shots the thermal clip was capable of. A bolt of energy flew through the spot her head had been a fraction of a second earlier, exploding against the opposite wall. Gilda's shield had recharged themselves by that point, something she guessed the drone would be capable of as well and didn't want to allow it to do. Putting in a new thermal clip, she jumped out once again and charged while firing the three shots she had. The drone rapidly fired two shots after each other back at her, one of them impacting directly and the other behind its target. Gilda's shield depleted completely at the first impact this time and the second threw her forward, the rifle violently forced from her claw. What she did notice was that her fire had managed to bring down the shielding of the drone in doing so, only now without the rifle she couldn't capitalize on that success. Move your chicken butt, Gilda! Scrambling for the weapon, Gilda grabbed the last thermal clip with only two shots left, rammed it into the weapon and rolled over onto her back. The drone's cannons were already glowing to finish the job as she centered her sight. CRACK! The front portion of the armor buckled in but the round didn't penetrate... CRACK! ...The second shot did though. The hole wasn't as gaping as with the smaller drones but internally was a completely different story as the heavy drone shudded before dying, crashing down onto the floor. Gilda laughed madly once again, having close encounters with death seemed to be the norm in this place. Guess it might be a good time to change that then by turning off those damned drones. Picking herself off the ground, the griffin put away the rifle as it was just a glorified club now, and made her way to the security office. She thanked the gods above that just like the sensors had reported no drones were inside the office itself. There was a large control table with holograms and multiple blinking red lights. "Congratulations on getting this far. All you have to do is link my system back up." A new voice spoke through the office's speakers, it had a metallic quality to it along with something else that Gilda couldn't place. "I take you're the central node?" the griffin asked as one of the screens popped up, showing another outline for her to place her claw in. "Indeed. Now link my systems, there is no need for further conflict." Another blue blinking light spring up on the control panel, drawing Gilda's attention along with a noise behind her. Another one of the elevators sat at the back of the office, whirring as it was moving something up. Damnit, I can't fight more drones without Shy's rifle... 1. Link the systems. 2. Investigate the lights. 3. check the elevator. [Vote link]