Dragons Teeth - The old ones
Forward...
It had been five long years since the final battle of the war with Reapers, millions dead, countless millions missing in action, worlds and cultures destroyed.
In the aftermath of the war the mistrust started, finger pointing and the near fracture of the council races.
Illium the world which had been a shining beacon, now was little more then a tarnished world.
Once news had surfaced detailing how they had been using a Prothean AI in secret to advance their culture, galaxy wide outrage erupted.
Meanwhile Earths forces had began to grow, a strong alliance had formed between the Turian's and the Earth Alliance.
The new council had five members, Human, Turian, a female Krogan, Asari and finally a Salarian.
It was decided that this would better represent the races which had come together to face the Reapers.
With the Citadel now permanently orbiting Earth, some of the race felt uneasy. However as Admiral Hackett had reminded them, if it was not for one human commander then the Reapers would have destroyed every race and culture.
The Normandy which was moored within the Citadel, was little more then a museum and mayoral to the fallen.
Chapter one. - SSV Shepard.
The newly refitted Everest Class Dreadnaught had began her final approach to the citadel.
Badly damaged in the final battle with the Reaper forces above Earth, she'd been completely refitted by a joint Turian and Earth task force.
She was now one of the most powerful vessels in the sector, which would be needed for her upcoming mission.
Now under command of the newly promoted Commander Williams.
Edi, the ship onboard AI had been rebuilt on the Shepard; she was as on the Normandy an integral part of the ships systems.
Lieutenant Commander Jeff 'Joker' Moreau, had been onboard the Shepard during the refitting of the destroyer.
Having been offered to serve under Ashley, he instantly accepted the offer.
For him there was nothing better then to serve on a war ship and this new mission, would give him the freedom that he'd been use to.
Standing before the new council of races, Commander Williams nodded towards Earths new councillor.
Councillor Hackett, he nodded back towards Ashley, before the council meeting began.
Standing side by side with Councillor a moment later Hackett stood forward.
"The Council would like to welcome you all to this our first major meeting since the citadel has been restored to working order. Although vast sections which are still sealed off, we have over sixty percent of the station now accessible. As you can see the council has been expanded to welcome the Krogan representative, Councillor Cargal Vrirdo.
She has been welcomed with open arms to the council." Hackett continued as the female Salarian shifted uncomfortably behind him, but said nothing.
"Our first order of the day is too dispatched the Shepard on her six year mission, to explore the regions of uncharted space. We the council wish you safe journeys, and look forward to your on going reports..."
After the end of the meeting, the assembled crowd started to disburse, and Ashley walked away from the council.
Covering the events of the new council, and the launch of the Shepard, Diana Allers had been assigned from Human alliance news network.
"Commander if I may have a word..." She began tentatively.
Ashley smiled at her former crew mate; "Of course, its good to see you again Diana."
Dianna's hovering news bot's light illuminated Ashley.
"Commander Williams, second human Spectre and now Commander of the Shepard, how does it feel to have this honour?"
Ashley smiled before replying in a measured tones; "It's an honour, our mission is of the up most importance. As you may be aware the Shepard's crew hail from different races. We've been tasked with traversing some of the un-chartered mass relays, following new data recovered during the reaper conflict."
"Can you elaborate future on the source of the information Commander?"
"I'm Sorry Diana that's classified."
"Thank you Commander that's all for now."
With that the light from the news bot faded away.
"Diana I've been asked by the council to take a news crew with me to document any new findings we discover on this mission, and I'd like it to be you."
Diana said nothing for a moment; "You've already cleared this with the Alliance?"
"Of course, you made quite a few 'fans' when you were with us on the Normandy. Not to mention this time, you'll have your own cabin."
"A Cabin, how could I refuse" she replied as a smirk plaid across her face.
Two Hours Later - Commanders Quarters.
The chime at the door announced the presence of her expected guest, Grunt.
"Commander Williams," Grunt spoke his voice like gravel. "You've got a lot to live up to, if you wish to impress me as Shepard once did."
Ashley sighed inwardly, Garrus had pre-warned her about Grunt, and what to expect. True she'd worked with Wrex in the past, but Grunt well he was different, in his prime with much to prove.
"As do you, I've read Shepard's reports while you served with her, and frankly I can't say I'm all impressed."
"And you think this bothers me?" Grunt snapped back.
"No, I just want you to know were we stand, I what I expect of you and the Akalakh Company that you command. They say you're the best of the best, well we may be putting that to the test."
"We'll be ready for anything Commander."
"Very good, now report to Garrus he'll be assigning quarters and you're future assignments for you."
"Garrus, now there someone I can respect." Grunt replied turning to leave.
"I agree, that's why he's my second in command."
Grunt paused for a moment, but said nothing before continuing to walk out of the quarters.
CIC - Shepard.
Walking to the large galaxy map Ashley looked towards Garrus, and Lieutenant Samantha Traynor.
After her service on the Normandy she'd requested to serve on a vessel, rather then returning back to the labs.
This had been approved by the alliance and she'd been awarded the rank of Lieutenant for her service during the Reaper conflict.
She'd been assigned to the Shepard for her refit along with Joker, as they'd be instrumental in refitting the Normandy.
"Lt Traynor give me ship wide communications."
Samantha's fingers danced across the console before she nodded to the Commander.
A bosons call echoed across the vessel before the Commander began to speak.
"A six year mission lies before us, and our destination lies beyond known space. This is where we will all face the unknown. I believe in your dedication and your skills, this mix crew onboard the Shepard represents the council races.
Joker plot a course towards the mass relay and onwards..."
Two hours later.
"Commander, we receiving a hail your eyes only." Lt Traynor announced.
"I'll take it in the ward room." Ashley replied as she made her way to the set of double doors to the side of the command deck.
"Edi seal the room, then patch through the hail."
"Yes commander."
On the monitor before her Javik's face appeared.
"Commander meet me at the following coordinates for pick up."
"Confirmed Javik..." Ashley began.
"Javik out." And the screen went dead.
"As chatty as always." Edi sighed.
Ashley said nothing, "Joker set course to these coordinates."
"Confimered Commander."
As the Shepard decelerated and came to a halt, a small unmarked shuttle flashed into being; then the changed course towards the dreadnaught.
Ashley stood by Joker as the shuttle appeared in system.
"Let her dock, then continue on your original course."
"Taxi service Commander, are we expecting company?"
"You could say we're picking up and old friend."
Once onboard the Shepard raced towards the Mass effect relay, then jumped away.
Javik walked between the two guards who escorted him to his quarters, waiting for them was the commander.
"Good to see you again Javik, how you been." Ashley enquired.
"I have been keeping busy commander, I have visited many of the old ruins that I used to know. There I discovered hidden cashes of information, which have lead us to the here and the now. I will need time to prepare in my quarters, after which I wish to call a meeting with you're team. As we have much to discuss."
"Of course."
Three hours later - War room.
Sitting round an oval table Ashley was reading decade old reports from the Alliance regarding the region of space known as Zelta Minus, their current destination.
Garrus sat to Ashley's left, to her right sat Liara T'Soni, Grunt was chatting to Garrus about past missions.
At the far end of the table sat their incumbent expert on Cerberus, Miranda Lawson.
During the Reaper war, she'd become Admirals Hackett's anti Cerberus officer.
After the war she'd been pardoned over her past crimes with Cerberus.
She'd been asked by Ashley to join the crew and become Operation's Chief, during the forth coming missions.
As the doors to the War room opened, Javik walked through, he made his way over to the table, and took his seat.
Ashley stood and addressed the table; "I'm handing this meeting over to Javik. We have a long mission before us. As you are aware we've been tasked by the council to investigate unexplored regions of space, that much has been made public. However we have a secondary mission and that is to research hidden Prothean sites. While there we are to document all relevant discoveries and data."
Ashley took her seat as Javik rose; "As you are aware various ruins of my people still survive on planets like Feros, Quana and Therum. There are many unexplored sites which exists elsewhere throughout the galaxy. These are what we are interested in discovering, there are also derelict stations which are said to still exist. Some have been visited by the younger races, however they have met by deadly force. I believe that they will react different to us, as we have something they did not have, me.
Before you on your consoles I have written details on our first destination, and station called Endeavour. Although I have never had the chance to visit it in my cycle, for it was abandoned before I was born. Any questions?"
Garrus raised a question; "So what could we discover on the station?"
"Automatic defenses, of what type I cannot say, but it could be interesting..."
"That's one way of putting it." Garrus mumbled disapprovingly.
"Do you know any details of the station purpose?" Ashley asked as she studied the display of the station, and the information supplied by Javik.
"I have discovered some details within the cashe I discovered. It is said that the station was a research and development installation. Many of our innovations were said to have been developed there. Hence why it is high on the councils list to see just what remains, if anything. However held within the data, was a signal, which we could use to deactivate the station defensives. This should give us safe passage through to the stations docking ports, in theory."
"There you go again big guy;" Joker quipped, "getting our hopes up, then dashing them at the last moment."
"Where there is hope, there is a chance." Javik replied simply.
Shortly after the meeting was adjourned, and the crew filed out.
Uncharted gas giant.
A single colossus tower Prothean in design hung in orbit around the large gas giant. Around the toward a twin wheel outer section connected to the tower via six struts.
Around the station various wrecks floated dead in space with the unlucky crew floating among the debris.
At the far end of the debris cloud was the fractured remains of a Reaper, long dead. With large sections of the hull missing, or vaporised.