Just Need Someone: All Good Things Chapter 1

AN1: Well since we were getting up to 20+ chapters I figured there was a good place to move onto a new story arc. In this case its the final arc of the whole series! So lets get going! R&R please!

==1 ½ days later – Citadel Nebula==

It was a day and a half later, Sunra stood at the front of the control area for the cargo ship they had stolen a day and a half ago. They had offloaded Javik now in a hover chair with the various aged Ardat-Yakshi onto the small asteroid with a living habitat that Aria had setup. After ensuring the aged Prothean and the guards Aria gave would keep the Yakshi safe and well cared for. Lansee had remained behind on Omega to aide Aria in coming with the Asari fleet to the Citadel for their political show down. Shiala had remained on board though.

The young Asari Shepard and the middle aged Asari commando and colonly leader for Zu's Hope had become good friends over the past few days. Mostly each had spent the time musing on the past many months. Shiala eager to learn all she could about these Ancients. Sunra eager to hear more about Shiala's adventures over the past 100 years in working with the colony and more recently becoming its leader.

Before they had left Sunra had stopped by Aria's control center, and the two had spent a short time talking, reviewing Sunra's time on Thessia and her choices there. Aria was still steamed about having Sunra save the Ardat-Yakshi but thankfully didnt rehash the issue. In the end the pair had spent the evening hours before Sunra left sharing a meal of chicken and rice dumplings. Surna trying to earn back some of Aria's cooler level headed nature and kindness by doing all the cooking and clean up.

Now as Sunra stood on the control room next to Shiala she glanced to her left to the older Asari. "..You think we're ready for this? That my father has done all she has too to secure our political stability?" She asked.

"..I'd wager so, but if not then this arrival of so many ships and fleets, especially ones made up of Geth is going to turn bloody if someone missteps or gets too itchy on the fingers.." Shiala answered as they slowed down from FTL speeds out of the relay.

There departure area was further back then the other ships, setup with a few other cargo and supply ships with a few small fighters and frigates as escort for protection Sunra whistled out loud. "..Wow...this is...this fleet gathering has to be bigger then that which was sent to Earth during the Reaper War!" She said.

Shiala nodded, "..I was on one of the landing forces for Hammer during that assault, that was big sure, this is...jeez I'd wager you're right." She said eyeing over the vast nebula as ships surrounded the Citadel with its arms thankfully still open with its small mixed defense fleet. In the no-man's land of this massive gathering was the SR-2 Normandy. "..Looks like Aura aint wasting time.." Shiala said opening the comm systems to listen in on the incoming open ended broadcast.

"..Citadel Council this is Spectre Aura Shepard. Aboard the SR-2 Normandy. Respond now please.." Came her father's voice.

"..This is Turian Councilor Valdone, Spectre Shepard what do you think you are doing! We demand to know why you have gathered all our personal government fleets, and more to the point why myself, the Asari, Salarian, and Volus councilors have been given a notice as being stripped of our positions for being 'compromised' for unexplained reasons!" Valdone's voice half shrieked over the comms.

"..Councilor Valdone, I think we both know why I am doing this, and why you and your remaining compatriots on the Citadel have been removed from power by those in your individual governments. But in case you need a refresher and for all those in your defense fleet who no doubt have been fed lies over the past months as I've dealt with one crisis to another across known space, let me remind you all.." Aura stated.

As one across every screen in the area, ship and Citadel images and short videos and read outs of proof of the Ancients and their indoctrination signals and those effected and who dealt with them slowly streamed by. "..The enemy is known as the Ancients. They are a race of aliens from the Andromeda galaxy who arrived here sometime near the end of the Reaper Wars nearly 100 years ago. They kidnapped myself and my bond mate Justicar Samara. In the past several months these same aliens have subverted the minds of influential figures in power all across known space, ready to betray their own people for promises of power and freedom in a 'new order' after their invasion and conquering of our species are done.." Aura said going on to explain in some detail various events she had dealt with in the months gone by.

Finally Valdone interrupted, "..This is...is preposterous! Lies clearly! This is some attempt at a takeover clearly! You can not remove us from power Shepard!"

"..You're right I cant...but your government leaders can. And they have done so. Now councilors I know for a fact which ships in your fleet I can count on to do the right thing with the evidence and orders from their leaders and superiors in front of them, and which will make this matter harder. So before you think you can order your fleet to open fire on a far superior enemy force let me be clear on what you have to work with...EDI?" Aura said turning things over to the AI.

"..Citadel defense ships under sway of Ancient forces, 5 frigates, 2 cruisers, 1 dreadnought, and 45 fighters. All of which now will find their weapon and defense systems have been disabled.." EDI reported.

Shiala and Sunra grinned, chuckling at what her father had done, buying time to explain why they were here had allowed the AI to override each ship's defense and offensive systems. In essence removing any chance of a fight taking place. "..Seems Aura hasnt lost her charms eh?" Shiala said.

Sunra chuckled, "..Indeed my father has not.." Sunra replied.

One by one replies came in from the Captains or those that replaced Ancient controlled Captains that they were standing down over the next hour. Within 4 hours most of the core ships were docked around the Citadel and those under Ancient sway had been taken captive for containment and handling at a later time. A few firefights had briefly broken out here and there on the Citadel or defense ships but overall the fighting was light and could have been far worse. In total only 29 people had been killed in the exchange of political control. True to her words Aria from behind the scenes had ensured that Aura's rise to leading the collective races and their fleets would be fully supported.

==Citadel Council Chambers – 4 hours later==

Sunra now stood in the packed Council chambers, at its center on the raised platform Aura stood alone. Slowly a silence fell over the chambers and likely elsewhere as well as Aura called for silence. "..My friends, compatriots, captains, soldiers, and civilians. I wish to take a moment to assure you all that the Citadel and those in power in your respective governments are on our side. We do not yet know exactly when these Ancients will invade, but we do know it will be soon. Their goal had been to insight a civil war amongst us all, weakening us for their true invasion time. But we have upended that from happening and we are united!" Aura said pacing in her usual way when she gave a rallying speech. "..Across known space as we speak thousands if not millions of you are preparing for the war we know is coming. A war that will decide the fate of our freedoms, not just in culture but for our very minds as well. This species believes that it can overpower us. While it is true they posses armaments far superior to what many of us have, know that together we will stop them! I can not promise a quick war, but I will promise you all that listen to my words here today. That we WILL stop them! We WILL not bend to their whims, and we will drive them back to their galaxy to secure our future for not just ourselves, but for our children and their futures as well!" Aura said falling silent.

A rising cheer came up then and elsewhere, for long moments before silence fell again as Aura spoke. "..I know the trust you place upon me is great. Trusting that I as your sole leader will lead you properly in the weeks and months if perhaps years ahead. And that once we DO defeat this threat that I will release this power gladly to reestablish the Council we have all once placed our trust in. Let me be clear that the moment this enemy is defeated, I will gladly turn this position over to a properly lead united Council once more." She said then gave one of her amused smiles and grins, "..After all I'm nearly in my mid 30s and I got a long life ahead of me yet, I want to spend what remains of it with my daughters, not resuming my old political office."

This brought some chuckles and laughs around the area for those that recalled Aura's old dislike of politics the joke seemed to relax many in the room and indeed Sunra herself felt the tension ebb away. "..In closing once more, know in the coming days and weeks no effort will be spared in preparation to ensure that when our enemy strikes we will not falter against them in the slightest, good day! And good night!" Aura said turning to head down the stairs into the private Council offices.

Sunra shook her head then moved to try to find her sister and the others aboard the Normandy she was sure her parents would be wanting to catch up with her on what had happened personally on Thessia.

AN2: Well short I know but I felt this started to lay the ground work for this final arc! R&R please!