Authors' Note

This story is being written by NattyWright and SilentStormSociety. It's a crossover world between Mass Effect and Dragon Age, set in a Star Trek styled universe. Hopefully you will all enjoy.

"Captain's Log, Star Date 9,20

"Headquarters has ordered us on a scouting mission to Ostagar, a planet on the far reaches of the Ferelden system. Reports of a new blight have emerged, and the Grey Warden Federation is obliged to investigate. I will create a new log when we arrive."

The recorder shut off with a hiss, leaving Captain Lyla Mahariel in silence with only her thoughts to keep her company, ignoring the still somehow sleeping woman in her bed.

She shared her bedroom onboard the GWS Griffon with her wife, Leliana Mahariel. It was a mostly utilitarian room, holding only a single small replicator, the Captain's log, their bed, and the women's own private individual worship areas. They had different Gods, but it never got in between them.

She looked at herself in a small mirror and smiled as she saw her reflection. She had already braided her long, red hair into a ponytail, lifting it up to show off her elven ears, ignoring the scar across one. Her vallaslin stood out in contrast to her pale skin, and her scars seemed to accentuate it. She had fought lots of battles over the years, and they had taken their toll, including her left eye. The Federation were able to replace it, but deep down Lyla liked how she looked with the eyepatch and wore it over the bionic one she had. A silly thing but it helped her reputation as a fearless leader.

"Ma vhenan, it's time to get up," She whispered as she planted a kiss on Leliana's head. "The bridge won't run itself forever."

Her wife grumbled as she opened her eyes, setting butterflies flying about Lyla's stomach. "Yes, dear. I'll meet you there. Love you."

"Love you too," Lyla giggled. She kissed her woman once more before stepping out of their room, onto the busy corridor.

The crew were on alert, the idea of the blight coming back was terrifying, a horror their Federation only just managed to defeat last time. A terrific, terrible battle that left them weak, and forced them into working for the other Empires. Not that they really cared, the Federation only existed to defeat the Blight, and the Darkspawn, the blight's army.

Their alliance was useful for all though, the other Empires of the universe were all obligated to give people to the Grey Wardens. Orlesians, Fereldens, Asari, Krogan, Salarian, and many, many more species made up the ranks.

It was beautiful in its own way.

Lyla made her way towards the turbo lift, the crowds of people parting like the ocean once they saw their Captain. "Bridge," She commanded as she entered.

"Captain on the bridge!" She called out as she stepped out, watching her crew salute her before going about their jobs. A good crew on a good ship. It was all she could ask for.

Her first Officer, Alistair, was another high-ranking Warden, eligible to captain his own ship if he truly wanted but he didn't, leading wasn't his strong suit he claimed, and Lyla was glad. The man was her friend and a good person.

Security Officer, Marian Hawke, A brilliant woman, and Lyla didn't just think that because Hawke was dating her sister. Hawke was a distinguished fighter in her own right, smart enough to be a captain but she chose to stay with Lyla's crew, to stay close to her lover.

Their Tactical officer was another distinguished fighter, Crystal Cousland. She was only an Ensign, but Lyla had seen something special in her. She was violent, perhaps a little too extreme for Main Headquarters, but she was a genius in battle. More a dancer than a fighter when she moved.

The Flight Controller was perhaps a strange choice, Isabela was not technically part of the Wardens, in fact, she was proud of a past that including piracy and other misdemeanours. But, she was the best navigator Lyla had ever seen and came recommended by her own sister, Merrill, something Lyla wouldn't ignore.

Her sister was part of the Engineering team, a group that was led by the Chief Engineer Morrigan, a prickly woman to say the least but one of the best engineers the Wardens had ever seen.

The rest of the crew was just as impressive, and Lyla was delighted to lead them.

The turbo lift doors opened, and Lyla turned to see her Morale Officer walking towards her, looking just as gorgeous as ever. Leliana was part of the best Morale team ever assembled, but being the wife of the captain had some privileges, and Lyla was happy to abuse them to have her lover beside her on the bridge.

She spared her a smile before pressing the comms button on her chair.

"This is your Captain speaking," she began. She imagined her crew stopping and listening to her, piling the pressure for her to make a good speech and she allowed herself one small moment of self-doubt, before pulling the brutal mask of confidence back over her face. "The archdemon is back, or at least that's what Ferelden space claims. It is our duty to investigate it, falonen, we are Grey Warden's, the blight should fear us!

"We are Grey Wardens, we are the sword that slices the dragon's neck, we are the shield that protects the innocent from its corruption. We hear the monster's call so that we can scream our own back at it. It will fear this ship, it will fear the Griffon.

"In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice."

She listened out and could hear the crew repeat the motto, this ship was massive, one of the biggest ever constructed but her elven hearing allowed her to just pick them up, and the microphones around the ship didn't hurt.

"Isabela, bring us to warp."