This story is set in the same universe as my Garrus/Shepard fic Like Only Lovers Can, but happens during the First Contact War. For the sake of easy reading, this story utilises human years, time and units etc and not Galactic Standards, despite the PoV. ;)

For this story I'm making the assumption that Relay 314 is the Shanxi-Theta Relay. This isn't confirmed to be 100% certain, but it's the best we got.

All characters are my own (except for mentions of canon characters). The world belongs to BioWare and the glorious writers who created the Mass Effect universe. If you, for some strange reason, would like to borrow my characters for non-profit use, be my guest. Just please inform me and give credit where credit's due, and pass the link to your fic so I can read, too.

Anyway, enjoy! Reviews always welcome (though this is just the prelude and doesn't say a lot of the story, I know...)

The map holo screen flickered, blurring the image of the solar system currently displayed. Laeta Pallum cursed and struck the machine with her fist. She knew it wouldn't help, but violence against an uncooperative computer was satisfying. They had slowed down from FTL speed a few hours ago, patrolling the border of a uninhabited system and the Commander wanted to hear a status report. There wasn't much to report: an inactive mass relay, a few uninteresting planets on the scanners and some shuttle junk floating around. She picked up a datapad, inserted it into the computer and started a data upload. It would take a moment, so she leaned back on her chair and picked up a half-full bowl of tisane. The steaming drink was of her favourite blend, bittersweet and strong.

A red, flashing dot appeared on the holo screen. Laeta gave it a cursory glance, but her browplates furrowed as she noticed the exact location of the dot. It was coming from the inactive relay. She set her drink aside and clicked open the interface for detailed information. Relay 314 was emitting signals. It was powering up.

"Commander! You'll want to see this. There's something wrong with 314. The mass effect fields are activating," she turned to inform Commander Iradalus.

"That's not possible," Iradalus growled, approaching Laeta's workstation.

"It can't be a malfunction, that relay's been dormant for centuries," Laeta shrugged.

"Take us closer and alert the fleet. Quickly, Pallum."

She didn't need to be told twice, not with the Commander breathing on her neck. She signalled the three heavy cruisers and six smaller fireships that made up their patrol to close in. As they neared the target, she activated the short-range scanners and her screen lit up with five new unidentified objects.

"Sir, I have five mobile targets. Vessels, presumably. They're not registered to the Council systems and aren't sending any IFF signals."

Commander Iradalus turned on his heels and marched to the communications screen in the middle of the command centre.

"Phitrax, open a comm link," he said to the turian man seated at the communications station, "Whichever ship picks up first will do."

Iradalus straightened his shirt and crossed hands behind his back, standing straight up as he waited for the video contact to open up. Several moments passed and nothing happened.

"Is there a problem, Officer?" he turned to Phitrax, looking mildly annoyed.

"Sir, nothing but static on the common channels. I will try a few more frequencies, just a moment," Phitrax tapped on the keyboard and the static changed to something else. "I'm picking up some communications. No video, though, sir. Setting up an audio link now. Go ahead, Commander."

Iradalus cleared his throat, "This is the Citadel cruiser Jaculum IV. Unidentified vessel, do you hear me? Identify yourselves." The comm crackled with noises that could have been speech, but it was no language Iradalus recognised.

"Unidentified vessel, I repeat. Identify yourselves."

"Commander, we have visual contact. They have attached a generator to the relay," Laeta turned her chair to to face Iradalus. "I think... I think they're trying to activate it. There's no way that thing would have a mass effect field powered otherwise."

The Commander groaned and tried again, "Unidentified vessel, cease your actions with the relay immediately. You are violating Citadel regulations. I repeat, cease your actions immediately."

There was more noises on the comm, nothing sensible.

"Power up the cannons. It looks like they won't comply," Iradalus ordered, "Message the fireships to draw closer and fire two light missiles as a warning."

"Unidentified vessel, this is your last warning. Unless you respond and comply, we will be forced to take action." Cornelis Iradalus watched the missiles hit one of the larger ships on the video feed screen. Chunks of metal floated away into space as explosions tore the vessel's hull apart.

There was no response still. He closed the comm link and turned away to address the crew.

"They refuse to cooperate. Load up nuclears and wipe them out."