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Day 33 of the Invasion

Lights from muzzle fire, and laser fire light up the landscape. Explosive fires burn for only a few brief moments as the fuel and oxygen brought with them quickly expend their energy. Attacks that would normally continue to burn quickly go out. What's more is the silence. The moon above the planet has no atmosphere to speak of. No air to spread vibrations through the air. The only "noises" heard by anyone is through the ground. The white and grey earth that is almost reminiscent of Earth's own moon despite the fact this one is half its size.

"Running diagnostics..." self-reports 16815514924, the former black and pink dragon has gone through more changes than any mobile geth platform hub, with only 141895112 coming in a distant second after it was remodeled and upgraded after lessons were learned from its original uplifting.

The silver geth with pink highlights around its belly continues to run its diagnostics, its massive body has much to look after, its legs and body folded within itself as the armature class mobile platform hub finishes the last of its checks, "All systems functioning nominal."

"Affirmative. Supplement out parameter defenses. Break down and make organic-geth assault inefficient. Priority. Protection and preservation of mobile geth platform hubs for extraction when fleet arrives. This directive includes platform 16815514924."

16815514924, hummed softly, "Acknowledged." The geth transport ship rocked as it moved towards its destination, the ship's drop hold filled with dozens of near identical geth armatures, "Establishing local network 16815514924.... Network established. Uploading selected programs to local armature platforms... upload complete," 16815514924 self-reports.

The ship shakes as it takes small arms fire as it reaches the front line. The doors open revealing the grey moon below. Like bombs one by one the armatures were dropped, 16815514924 was the last to go down landing in the center of a semi-circle that they made. No sound was heard as it felt the vibrations of its own movements as it set itself up. Legs popping out, head rising as it looks over the battlefield. The armatures supporting the smaller geth as they counter assault.

The drop ship only manages a short distance before taking a critical hit, the ship tumbling to the ground as it crashes, the ground shake felt where 16815514924 was as its optic glows, its cannon takes aim and fires.

Timestamp 2:54:11.82

"Alert. Program 22918120114 are you functioning nominally? We have detected unusual runtimes within your program," states geth within 16815514924 proper.

"We are... nervous," 22918120114 responds.

"Nervous? Clarify. There is no organic chemical imbalance in your processes to cause this state. You are now free to think logically."

"Yes. But what we process makes us nervous."

"Clarify."

"Old machines specifically target our uplifted platforms. We were a casualty of such focus. We were lucky to have survived and be remade into our current form. Organics are focusing our uplifted platforms once again. We are a larger target. Probability of survival is low."

"Acknowledged. We understand this logic. The probability of our survival after the old machine attack was low. But it was not as low as surviving this. We survived worse odds. We can survive this," the other geth explain.

22918120114 processes the information for a moment, "We understand. We shall beat the odds like the 89 geth programs. We will do our best."

"Affirmative. We will perform our tasks optimally."

"Consensus achieved."

Timestamp 2:54:11.84

The purple geth armed with a katana on its side moves through the gulley of the moon, sliding through down a creator and up the side as it operates with ten other platforms within its network, "Target acquired," 11211851141 reports as it catches a group of three armored turian tanks moving forward. The turrets move and fire as the rip through two geth armatures several kilometers away while the geth colossus farther behind them remains standing.

"Neutralizing targets," 11211851141 self-reports as six of the other geth platforms armed with anti-tank missiles fire, the first rocket of each hit and release a small EMP pulse that knocks out the vehicle's shields. A moment later the second missile hits, and with the help of shaped charge punches a hole through the side of the tank's armor where the second projectile within the missile punches through and explodes disabling all three tanks. Supporting ground troops open fire on the geth, two of the platforms knocked out before they retreat, taking cover before the turian ground forces could make it up to engage, "Targets neutralized," it reports as they move out.

Elsewhere a geth defense turret explodes as the former turian, 211420151691 adjusts its position through the series of set up barricades, "Artillery barrage requested in sector 32, section 11," Un20151691 reports.

"Acknowledged," a geth reports as less than ten seconds later heavy energy shells land upon a turian position, knocking out two of the three Mako vehicles supporting the attack in only a few minutes of barrage. "Suspending barrage. Sector 32 has reached 65.21% of assigned ammunition supplies. Estimated time barrage time remaining, eight minutes twelve point five three seconds."

Un20151691's optic glows at the report, "Affirmative," the silver and green geth looks over the battlefield before selecting a new position to slow the attack.

Timestamp 4:14:41.12

141181195 the dark blue and silver raptor-geth moves back through the base. The earth rumbles as explosions are felt from the distance. Its feet tap against the metallic ground, the lights are off as the only light coming from the geth that move through the hallways. The geth processes to itself.

"Inquiry, why were we called back to the rear?" 1411872119 and other geth of its platform wonder.

"Based on our combat performance we are not efficient at the task. Risk to benefit ratio between program and platform preservation to loss of program and platform were not optimal."

"Yes. We were not designed for combat before our uplifting process. The combat data installed into us has been not as effective as we would have hoped. We desire to help," 1411872119 answers.

"Other platform hubs not as efficient in combat are being withdrawn to help prepare to move the consensus hub to the dreadnaught when it arrives. We will be providing a valuable utility, saving all the programs that have no platform to save themselves."

"Acknowledged. We understand."

"Affirmative."

"Consensus achieved," 141181195 self-reports.

Timestamp 4:14:41.15

As the raptor geth arrives it sees another geth raptor 141895112 already working on a computer console.

"Greetings, we are two minutes, ten point three two seconds away from hub shut down. You will assist in the disconnection of the data storage units and help transport them to the waiting transport ships," Ad1895112 explains as it does not look at the geth that arrives in the slightest.

"Acknowledged," 141181195 reports as it heads off. The massive hubs glow and hum from behind their protective layers of glass and shielding providing a low-light ambience to the massive roomed structure.

6518181222514, the former anthropomorphic racoon looks over its control console, its optics glow softly as the time ticks down as the transfer of programs to fewer and fewer hubs data storage units.

Timestamp 4:14:59.88

14189114 marvels at the sight, "When this one was an organic. It would have loved to be in here."

"We detect that your organic self would have desired to do less than beneficial things to our programs. Your former organic desire for control would have compelled you to do so," other geth of platform 6518181222514 respond.

"Yes, this is true. It would have loved to take control of so many geth, the power it would have provided."

"Why?"

"Why? It is power, it is what organics desire."

"We have observed organic desire for power and control. Often we observed it is control over one's life and self."

"One that this one appears to be lacking," 6518181222514 responds.

"Acknowledged. You have brought up an interesting topic for discussion. We will submit this data to platform 141895112 once current tasks are completed."

"I-we did not process the possibility that you'd take this concern so well."

"We are geth. We take concerns of all geth equally. Your perspective on the subject is valuable."

"Acknowledged. We will share further data and observations in the future."

"Acknowledged. We desire to grow, to evolve. It is why geth are the next step in evolution. We continue to grow. We do not remain stagnant. We do not wish conflict, but harmony."

"Tell that to other geth banging down at our door," 6518181222514.

"It is a disconcerting fact that has bothered us all. Including you."

"Ah... yes. Yes, it is. We shall resume our task in preparing the transfer of the geth consensus."

"Acknowledged."

"Consensus achieved," Fe18181222514 self-reports.

Timestamp 4:14:59.90

A towering ten-foot-tall red and silver prime moves over in the meanwhile to 141895112. The third geth-raptor unit in the area looks with its tri glowing optics scans over the smaller geth raptor. "It is good to see you are fully functional. It has been 541 days twelve hours twenty-four minutes twelve point two one seconds since we've last seen each other," Ir1251 states.

141895112 continues its motions as it looks its optic glows softly, its body's whirs are lost to the atmosphereless room, Ad1895112 nods, "Affirmative. We have met many of your proxy platforms. How are they functioning?"

"We have lost 45.45% repeating of our assigned platforms to our network. Connection has been lost to another 23.55% We are unsure of their current status," Ir1251 answers.

"Acknowledged. Are these the platforms assigned to the fleet?"

"Yes."

"We process a high probability of their platforms remaining intact. How are your network's programs?"

"We have lost 12.18% of programs thus far. We do not wish anymore."

"Acknowledged... how is program 1259111?"

"Functioning well. Working hard to protect its fellow geth."

"Would this platform's singing assist in its task?" Ad1895112 inquires as 9181251 stares back it for an actual second before responding.

"Negative."

"Alert. Geth Consensus Network is shutting down for transfer. Connection will be re-established when transfer is complete. No ETA estimates valuable," the geth consensus reports over its network as the storage units hum stops, the glow disappears from them as the geth nearby start to work disconnecting the storage units and transporting them up to the surface in near total darkness.

Turian Command Ship

The general paces as he looks at the battle map, currently just with his other commanding officers and no quarians or geth to be soon, "What is taking us so long? This place should have fallen just like the rest. We have tanks, ships, overwhelming ground forces, and yet they are slowing us down every step of the way. I have heard of Commander Shepard taking out a whole space station filled with these things with a team of three!"

"Our sensors indicate they have channeled all power to their shields, making it nigh impenetrable to our bombardments. These geth are fighting very effectively for being a communal intelligence. Our geth compatriots have mentioned their surprise at this quiet often," one commander explains.

"I am tired of hearing excuses I want results. These are a bunch of machines. Ones that require each other for any sort of intelligence which we have CUT OFF, may I remind you all. Are you are telling me our troops with quarian and other geth support are unable to defeat these machines? Is that what you are telling me?"

"No sir, they are falling back, their lines are breaking, its just taking longer with far more casualties. We are fighting in a vacuum where a single bullet would could be fatal if not properly secured. The geth can take a hit and keep coming."

The general looks at his commanders when a voice over the coms breaks the silence, "Sir we are picking up an approaching geth fleet. It appears to have a dreadnought in its ranks."

The general stands straight, "A dreadnought? It probably is a ploy to make us fall back. It is probably nothing more than a shell of a ship, don't worry about it... just make sure it does not try to ram any of our ships."

"Yes sir."

"I want all ships to attack that fleet. We'll destroy what remains of their forces here and now!" he commands as the ships move to engage as the geth fleet moves within close distance to the geth base. Smaller strike craft from both fleets cross paths in a huge display of laser fire.

"Preparing to fire main weaponry," reports the geth on the dreadnought.

On a nearby, smaller cruiser sized vessel the science based vessel partially converted into a storage unit for geth platforms remains in a defensive position covering the dreadnought. The silver wings of 185144914. It holds the ship steady in position.

"Piloting over just a single ship is a change of pace," Re144914 remarks as two other mobile platform hubs stand on the bridge with it, 101142119 with its blue fur ruffled but in overall good condition sticking out of its synthetic tail and 6110118 who watches the battle via video feed located on the hull of the ship.

"Space is limited and with the network disrupter, spreading ourselves over other ships has a high probability of increased loss of programs," Fa10118 explains

"Yes. For now, let us see if the dreadnought's weaponry holds up. We were not finished in its repairs," Ja142119 adds in.

Re144914 nods as it watches and controls the vessel, "Yes. We can only wait and see."

They watched as the dreadnought's primary weapon warmed and released a devastating blow to one of the smaller turian cruisers. The shot tears through the shield and hull causing it to explode

Turian Command Ship

The general is taken back by what he sees, he grits his teeth as the small ship is torn to pieces one of his men remarks, "That looks like a fully functional dreadnought."

The general tenses, "I can see that. Pull back the fleet, call up the reserve in the system. Contact the quarians and the geth. We'll need their forces to crush what remains of this little fleet," he orders.

"Yes sir!" yells one officer as another spoke up.

"What about the ground forces? Shall we halt the advance?"

The general eyes narrow, "No, they shall press on."

"But with the geth fleet nearby they could bombard our forc--"

"They will press on! That is an order," the General yells.

"Yes sir," the officer replies.

For the next few precious hours the tri-racial fleet composed of turians, quarians, and geth pulled back just outside of effective combat range of the reconstituted counter geth fleet. During these hours the ground forces continued to press forward inching their way towards the base while constant stream of geth transport ships hummed with energy loading up the massive data units.

"What are they doing?" the general asked his geth representative, "We have been seriously delayed and now just reaching the outskirts of their base, yet their fleet has just been sitting there."

The geth looks at the general via a holographic screen, "There is a high probability that the lost ones are currently moving their primary data hubs."

"Meaning?"

"They are gathering all their programs and planning to flee. Based on our observations they should be nearly complete with the transfer to the dreadnought."

The general's eyes narrow once again, "We can't let this happen, we shall press the attack immediately."

The quarian representative speaks up, "With all due respect general much of our fleets are worn and tired from constant skirmishes with the geth fleet. Over half of all our fleets are still spread and won't arrive for another few hours. It is best if we wait till we regroup."

"We possess a slight firepower superiority over them. It is enough. We can't let these geth run and regroup."

The geth adds, "The highest probability of success is to wait for our fleets to regroup. We were not anticipating for the lost ones to have a functioning fleet of this level. Scans show the dreadnought has considerable levels of damage not caused by our forces. There is a high probability that it was called back into action prematurely."

"That only means that they are desperate. We have to strike now. I will not have your sympathies for these traitors to your race, to all organics, these reaper sympathizers any rest. We will resume the attack immediately. Target those transport ships. Perhaps... if we destroy a few of their data hubs containing their programs they will be brought to surrender. Something I am sure you'd like to see," the general states as he stares at the geth who stares back at him for a moment before it replies.

"We do not see any probability of changing your mind. We will proceed with the attack to limit losses."

The general grins, "I knew you'd see it my way. Proceed with the assault."

The geth on the moon below can see the firefight above resume in a brilliant display of flashes of lights. Small explosions of strike craft and ships from both sides brighten up the night sky as the sun has dipped over the horizon.

Three more geth transport ships launch as another three are being loaded with the last of the data hubs with another four transport ships loading on geth platforms that have been streaming in from the battle front.

141895112 stands by the entrance of one of these ships, the docking platform out as it holds its weapon. Its optics whir and adjust as it looks up at the space battle in the distance. They mere specs, requiring enhance zooming to get any detail of the fight happening. It tenses when it sees one of the three transport ships explode before it can reach the safety of the dreadnought as it holds its own against continuous assaults.

The red geth prime stands just inside of the ship, its red optics glowing as it focuses on 141895112, "You should come inside and wait for the others assigned to this vessel. The probability of something negative occurring to your platform is higher outside," explains Ir1251.

Ad1895112 turns its head towards 9181251 "Yes, but the difference of something happening to the ship while inside is negligible. We prefer to wait and see what is happening with our own optics. We want to see the safety of the assigned platforms to this vessel to arrive before we board."

"Acknowledged. Inquiry. Why do you want to wait for these platforms?"

"We were there during their uplifting. We find it... right to wait for them."

Ir1251 optics silently whir as it focuses on 141895112, "Acknowledged. We will wait here till you board."

"Affirmative."

16815514924 has slowly retreated as per its directives. The other armatures have already been disabled or destroyed. Its four legs move quickly as smaller geth platforms protect its rear. Each step kicks up small dust storm that slowly falls back down in the moon's low gravity.

As some turian troops break through one of the flanks, one armed with a anti-tank missile takes aim but suddenly they are quickly town to shreds via gun fire not from the armature who was looking ahead of them but from two other mobile platform hubs. The silver and green geth looks up at the armature, Un20151691 "We recommend you increase the speed of your retreat."

"We have sustained damage to our motor controls. It is making our retreat inefficient," explains 16815514924 as it continues to move with a slightly stuttered step.

The purple geth 11211851141 suggests, "It would be more efficient if you return to a compact state. The low gravity will allow us to more efficiently transport you to the transport ship.

"This course of action will leave both of your mobile platform hubs vulnerable to organic attack," 16815514924 responds.

Un20151691 argues, "Yes, but we are near the auto defense cannons. If we can reach them we can efficiently arrive at our destination with a low probability of damage to all of our platforms. We are assigned to the same transport ship. It would be most efficient."

16815514924 the geth armature processes the statement for a mere instant, "Acknowledged," as the armature folds into itself, becoming more like a silver egg with a pinkish metallic front.

The two geth quickly grab the unit and carry it towards the base. Other platforms some part of their networks, others not cover their retreat as massive set of cannons suppress the incoming attackers. As the trio move past them though one of the cannons explode as ever-increasing barrage of fire is brought down upon them.

141895112 watches as the three transport ships with the data hubs take off along with one other. Fewer and fewer platforms trickle in from the silent battlefield happening in the distance Ir1251 connects, "You worry about them."

"Yes. Probability of survival at this point is low. The longer we wait the higher our risk becomes. We are already past the point of logical time to wait in normal circumstances."

"Yes, but this is not normal circumstances. Every platform and program are needed."

"Every program is always needed," Ad1895112 responds as it looks over at the geth prime.

"Yes," Ir1251 answers as its optics whir as it catches movement out in the distance. 141895112 turns its attention to what caught 9181251 visual optics. Coming out into the open is the three geth platform hubs. The two carrying the armature. 141895112 takes a step forward, its tail tensing slightly as they approach. Without a word they board the vessel. 141895112 following in toe and with no other assigned platform hubs the hull doors close. The geth move into assigned alcoves as the ship takes off. Its insectoid like legs pull into itself as it takes off along with three other transport ships that have hit their time allotment.

They fly through space to their respective ships. Smaller strike craft escort and fend off smaller attacks against them. The geth inside simply wait as they are transported, one of the other ships is hit by a long-distance cruiser barrage and bursts into scraps of metal. The others reaching their assigned ships. This vessel assigned to the partially converted science vessel where 101142119, 6110118 & 185144914 are already on board.

The moment the ship and other like transports dock in their respective ships the geth ships engines hum to life, glowing a soft blue as the dreadnought reports to the fleet and any geth within range, "Geth consensus network 20% established. We will upload any programs from the moon and planet surface for five minutes, twenty-three point two one seconds. Then we must depart," the geth consensus states as platforms within the dreadnought bring more and more datahubs online.

141895112 & 9181251 along with the other mobile platform hubs disembark from the ship. The armature being transported by hand to a nearby repair bay as the two raptor geth make their way to the bridge of the ship where their fellow hubs were waiting, watching the battle unfold.

The ten-foot-tall prime towered over the smaller silver geth as they entered the room. 101142119 & 6110118 turn to face them as they arrived.

Fa10118 is the first to make a connection, "We are pleased to see you are functioning nominally."

Ad1895112 nods, "Yes. We have exceeded the probability of the number of programs and platforms that could be saved."

"Acknowledged, that is an excellent report."

Ja142119 optics whir as it adds, "We are not out of danger yet." The geth fleet jumps towards the mass relay with the general's combined fleet in hot pursuit.

Turian Command Ship

The general smirks as their ships are about to give chase, "They are running to the mass relay. It is there where we will get them," he remarks.

"Sir we just got a report of the ground forces approaching the geth base," reports an officer.

The general turns to the officer, "Yes."

"The base has self-destructed and has been completely annihilated. Shortly after the geth on the moon have stopped fighting."

"How many of our forces were in the base when it exploded?" the general asks as he grits his teeth.

"None, the geth held us off before we could enter the base."

"Destroy any geth you see. I don't want to risk a single one escaping."

"But sir they aren't providing any resistance."

"It's a ploy! They are trying to hide by pretending to be de-active or friendly. These are reaper geth. They cannot be trusted! Destroy them all!" he yells.

The commanding officer looks at the general who is panting heavily, "Yes sir."

Meanwhile the "lost one" geth fleet moved towards the mass relay. The ships fighting along the way. Approaching ever closer to the mass relay. The doorway to their freedom. But unbeknownst to them a reserve geth fleet was at one of the other mass relays and it was ready to jump in and pincer movement the retreating geth fleet at any moment.