Chapter 1:
Desolas walked into the High Command chambers. In the center of the room sat Primarch Fedorian. By his side were several other high ranking turian officials. Each one commanded great power in not just in turian politics, but the military as well.
"What did you learn from Admiral Getas?" Fedorian asked Desolas, avoiding greetings all together.
"Very little," Desolas answered. "The Admiral found a new alien race illegally activating a mass relay. He attacked but the scouts were able to withstand his fleet's attack. The aliens immediately retreated back through the relay. Getas ordered his fleet to follow through the relay and subjugate the race. After that, Getas had a panic attack when he tried to remember what happened. The only thing I got out of it was 'ADF'."
"ADF?" Fedorian repeated.
"Unusual, I know."
"What do you think of the situation, General?" one of the officials asked.
"I know the Admiral personally. He's a brave and disciplined soldier. Whatever he faced on the otherside of the relay was not for the lighthearted. Whoever, whatever, this race is, it is powerful and brutal. And it is a threat to galactic order. We must act."
"Agreed," Fedorian said. His omni-tool beeped. He looked down at it. "It appears that we've managed to recover the ship's records. We can finally see what happened."
A holographic screen appeared in the middle of the room. The footage gave them the viewpoint of the flagship of the patrol fleet and footage inside the bridge of the cruiser flagship. The turians watched as the patrol fleet followed the scout ships back to their world of origin.
"Looks like they've led us right back to their homeworld," Getas said over the radio. "And look. It appears that those scouts ships are all they have."
The scout ships were able to return to their homeworld.
"What are our orders, sir?" the communication officer asked.
"I'm feeling merciful," Getas chuckled. "Sent a translation package along with a message. Record what I say now." The communication officer pressed a button on his dash. "Unknown race, this is turian patrol 314. You are to surrender to our forces and prepare to be subjugated by the turian Hierarchy. We will spare your lives if you do so. End message."
"Message is recorded."
"Send it. We'll wait a bit and if we get nothing we will attack. I'd prefer not to waste our soldiers lives needlessly if we can scare this race into submission."
"Very generous of you, sir," the XO said.
The turians did not have to wait long before receving a response. They were expecting several hours. They received a reply within minutes.
"Sir, we are receiving a transmission from the world," the communication officer said to Getas.
"Already? These aliens couldn't have already translated our language. Play the transmission."
"Playing."
The transmission played in perfect turian. "Turian patrol, this is General Wiliams of the Alliance Defense Force. We will not surrender to your forces. The ADF never surrenders! If you wish to start a war, the ADF will not hold back."
"Arrogant aliens!" Getas cursed. "Fine. If they wish to die needlessly, we'll grant them their wish. XO, take over. I wish to oversee the ground forces personally."
"You sure it's safe to do so, sir?"
"These aliens don't use eezo. Any weapons they use would be primitive compared to what we are equipped with. We'll be back before you know it."
Fedorian fast-forward through the footage. They watched as the fleet launched several hundred drop ships. He continued until the chamber could see a single drop ship return from the planet roughly two hours later according to the recording. Fedorian returned the footage back to regular speed.
"XO, order the fleet for a full retreat," Getas said in a panicked voice. He was short of breath. It wasn't from exhaustion. Getas was on the brink of going into shock.
"Yes, sir. What happened? Where are the others?"
"They're all dead. We never stood a chance. These aliens are more powerful than we could possibly imagine. The things they did... Spirits, we need the entirety of the Hierarchy's forces to subdue them. They cannot be allowed to attack the galaxy! They're monsters. Worse than the krogan!"
The Admiral's dropship returned to the ship.
"Orders to fleet, full retreat," the XO announced over the fleet radio. "I repeat, full retreat."
"Sir, there's something coming from the planet," the tactical officer said.
"What is it?" the Admiral asked as he reached the bridge.
"It's a ship, but not one of the scout ships we followed. It appears to be a cruiser-class ship."
"Do not engage that ship!" Getas ordered. "Get our fleet to the relay."
"Ship is rapidly gaining on us. Spirits, how fast is this ship?!"
The turians were closing in on the mass relay.
"Something is happening with the ship. It's morphing."
"What?" Getas yelped.
"It's what I'm seeing. The ship cracked open and a large cannon emerged from its inside- Weapon is charging up!"
"Brace yourselves!"
The cruiser fired a white laser beam that swept through the patrol fleet and was followed by explosions. All over the bridge, consoles and terminals exploded, killing the could only guess how much damage the rest of his ship took if the bridge is this bad. He was launched out of his chair during the attack. Getas struggled to reach the pilot's chair where his pilot sat dead. He activated the mass relay to escape.
"S-Spirits help us all..."
The footage ended.
"We discovered the Admiral in his heavily damaged ship a couple days later," Fedorian said. "He was near death and delirious."
"That was... disturbing," Desolas muttered. "What was that weapon they used?"
"It looks like a laser weapon," one of the military officials said.
"Impossible!" another official yelled. "Neither the Hierarchy, the salarians or asari have been able to create energy weapons on this scale. It has to be some kind of trick."
"Trick or not, what is clear is that this race is a clear and present danger to galactic security," Fedorian concluded. "We must put together a fleet and quickly subdue them."
"I volunteer to lead this fleet," Desolas offered.
"Very good. I want this race subdued and their technology taken. It is something different and would benefit the Hierarchy. Desolas you will have first, third, fifth and sixth fleet under your command. This is enough to start a war with the asari and slarians and sustain it for months. It should be more than enough to quick defeat this ADF."
Desolas chuckled. "The ADF will know what terrors this galaxy can hold."
VVVVV
"And you are sure, they're not reapers?" Hackett asked Williams.
The two military officials spoke through holograms.
"More than sure, Admiral," Williams assured him. "It's a race known as turians. They are fairly primitive compared to us, but it appears it is because they have fallen for the reaper trap the Ravagers warned us about."
Even though the war ended over a hundred years ago, humanity still did not show any respect for the dead as they still called the Arthenn, Ravagers.
"Can we expect another attack?" Hackett asked.
"After what we've learned about their people from datamining their ships, it's a certainty."
"Can we dismantle the mass relays before then?"
"With our current resources, it would take a month to do so."
"We'll send reinforcements then. What have you learn from the databanks the Lightning Guard mined?"
"The Hierarchy is fairly similar to us. They are a very militaristic race that has everyone enlist in their military for a set period of time. But we've found that the turians are part of a galactic government. A government that consists of over a dozen races."
"What can you tell me about these other races."
"They base their government on the Citadel."
"That's a problem."
"Indeed."
"Continue."
"The government has three races at the head. The asari and the salarians are the founding members of the government, and the turians are the most recent addition to the Council. The asari play the role of the diplomats, salarian are intelligence and the turians are the main military force of the Citadel. The other races are associate members and from what we can tell, do not enjoy the same rights as Council members."
"Then why join the Council?"
"Each race's government still has their autonomy save for following several conventions. We're not sure what those conventions entail as that part of the codex was corrupted. But the associate races get increased trade and added security."
"Do you believe the Council will intervene in the conflict with the turians?"
"Not likely at first. We expect that the asari will attempt a diplomatic mission after we beat back the turians."
"Okay. General you've faced this turian army. How confident are you in our forces against the Hierarchy?"
"Honestly?"
"Speak freely."
"They're a joke. Their weapons, armour and ships are primitive compared to ours. They still use kinetic projectile weapons. They also use very small scale ground units. The largest units they have in their arsenal are tanks and troops carriers. When up against our soldiers, we have them beat in both speed and strength."
"I see. Now according to your report, you ordered the usage of the genocide beam against the turian fleet."
"It was a measure ordered to scare away the turians so they didn't attempt to bombard Shanxi from orbit. We had no idea that their barriers would be so ineffective against our attacks. We compared the technology between their soldier's armour and their ships and we found that their barriers for both their soldier and ships operate on the same principles. They can only reflect accelerated kinetic attacks."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, their barriers are meant to take fire from their weapons, but not from the laser or plasma shots that our weapons fire. Even dragon fire can get through their shields."
"Then we don't have much to fear. Regardless, I don't want you to underestimate the turians. I don't want what happened during the second Ravager war."
"Understood."
VVVVVV
Desolas stepped into the Presidium. Before the turian fleet is sent to the ADF world, the Hierarchy felt it would be proper to let their Councilor know about it. He was also there to meet with his brother Saren.
"It's not often you come to the Citadel, Desolas."
"Damn it, Saren!" Desolas growled as he turned around. "You know I hate it when you do that."
"Being quiet in my approach is second-nature to me," Saren said with a grin. "It's one of the reasons why I was asked to join the spectres. Now tell me what brings you to the Citadel. Your message said it was urgent."
"Walk with me. We're going to meet with Councilor Sparatus."
They walked at a brisk pace to the embassy.
"Now what is the emergency?" Saren asked.
"We made first contact with a violent race and we're preparing an attack fleet to take this race down before they become a threat to the galaxy. I want you to join this assault with me."
"Tell me everything."
VVVVVV
Rain poured over the grassy plains. In the distance a giant dark grey machine moved towards a nearby human city. The creature resembled a cuttlefish back on earth. The only thing standing between this monstrosity and the human city was a squad of five Wing Divers: Athena, Artemis, Selene, Eos and Artemis.
"Your efforts will be in vain," the creature stated. Its voice echoed throughout the plains. "You are mere insects compared to our might. I am Sacrosanct. Sentinel of those infinitely your greater."
The leader of the Wing Diver squad, Athena, smiled, rested her plasma caster on her shoulder and said, "Funny you mention insects. Because we are going to crush you like one, Sacrosanct."
"Your confidence is born in ignorance." Its voice shook the ground the Wing Divers stood on. "You cannot stop an eternal force of the galaxy. Surrender yourselves. We are your salvation through your destruction."
"Surrender? The ADF never surrenders!"
"We are this galaxy's only hope!" the squad yelled in unison as they struck a pose. "ADF!"
"Prepare yourself, Sacrosanct," Athena wanred. "Because you will find that our salvation... Is through your destruction. Goddesses of Victory, go!"
The five Wing Divers blasted off of the ground at full speed with their weapons aimed at the kilometer tall reaper. The reaper raised several of its appendages. The ends started to glow red as it prepares to fire.
The footage suddenly cut away as a newscaster appeared with a large banner beneath her stating "BREAKING NEWS".
"Hi, I'm Emily Wong. Welcome to the Alliance News Network. We interrupt this week's episode of Goddesses of Victory for breaking news. ADF high command has announced that it has made contact with a new alien race at the other end of the Shanxi mass relay. The aliens proved to be hostile as they attacked our scouting vessels without provocation. Luckily our scouts survived the attack and made it back home. The attacking aliens, or turians, as they call themselves, continued the conflict by attempting an invasion of Shanxi. Our military however was able to repel them after a short skirmish. ADF command is confident in its ability against this new alien threat as their level of technology is inferior to our own. As of now, the ADF is expecting another attack wave and so they have sent reinforcements to Shanxi. We will provide you with updates on this story as they become. We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast."
Sacrosanct's body was in shambles. Parts of its body was spread across the plains. The five Wing Divers stood in front of its red eye.
"I-Impossible," the reaper muttered.
"You reapers picked the wrong race to fight," Selene said.
"We are many. Your worlds will fall."
"So long as the ADF fights, you'll never take this galaxy." The five Wing Divers aimed their weapon at the eye and the barrel ends lit up.
VVVVVV
ACCESSING ALLIANCE DEFENSE FORCE DATABASE...
ACCESS GRANTED
OPENING ALLIANCE DEFENSE FORCE RECORDS...
ACCESSING TYPHOON TEAM DOSSIER...
TYPHOON TEAM
Name: Kaidan Alenko
Age: 23
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Class: Air Raider
Note: Kaidan Alenko is an intelligent, strategic and level-headed soldier. He shows great promise to become a great military leader.
Name: James Vega
Age: 16
Rank: Private 2nd Class
Class: Fencer
Note: Despite being in the military for a few months, James Vega has distinguished himself among his peers through his skill and quick thinking. He shows great enthusiasm for the ADF and loyalty to his fellow soldiers. His abilities are what got Lieutenant Shepard's attention when she form her team. Due to the potential this soldier possesses, it is highly recommended that he joins the N7 program as soon as possible.
Name: EDI
Age: 5
Rank: Service Chief
Class: Lightning Guard
Note: EDI is the first AI of her kind to be a true anti-reaper AI. While all previous AIs were designed to resist reaper hacking attempts (based on the Ravager database), EDI has the highest processing power ever given to an AI, giving her the theoretical ability to initiate cyberwarfare against reaper forces. While EDI occasional displays unprofessionalism through her "humour", she is highly competent when on the battlefield and works with great synergy with her team.
Name: Jeff Moreau
Callsign: Joker
Age: 19
Rank: Flight Chief
Class: Pilot
Note: It is no exaggeration that Jeff Moreau is one of the most talented recruits ever admitted to ADF's flight Academy. Passing tests both written and simulation with flying colours, he had gained the attention of Jane Shepard when she was constructing her team. Joker serves as personal pilot for Typhoon team and as support on the battlefield by proving precision strikes and vehicle drops.
Name: Jane Shepard
Age: 20
Rank: Staff Lieutenant
Class: Dragon Rider
Dragon Name: Jin
Dragon: 11m long, 2.2m tall at hip. Leviathan breed. Green with purple stripes.
Dragon Abilities: Pyrosis, Regeneration, Venomous, Generates hurricane-force winds (only when grounded)
Note: The only child of Daniel and Hannah Shepard. Jane Shepard has exceeded all expectations with her determination, leadership and combatitve skills in ADF's advance training sessions. She is the youngest graduate of the N7 program and attained the highest aptitude score since David Anderson.
RECOMMEND TYPHOON TEAM FOR DEPLOYMENT TO SHANXI.
VVVVVV
Calpamos
ADF Designation: Bug World
Calpamos was discovered by the EDEN project with one of their scout probes. It was a garden world that could support human life, however the planet contained no useful resources such as precious metals. On top of that, the world had an unpredictable weather pattern and frequent violent storms. Instead of wasting time and energy in terraforming the world, the ADF decided to make the world into a breeding colony for their insects and an advance training ground.
"So how many do you think there is?" Vega asked Kaidan.
Kaidan glanced up at the approaching ant and bee horde. He retained his calm demeanor as he deployed anti-air turrets. "Hmm... Don't know. Six, Seven hundred."
"Should make for an interesting fight then," EDI stated.
"You know the procedure," Shepard reminded her team as she mounted Jin. Shepard wore armoured that resembled futuristic knight armour. It was metallic with a blood splatter in the shape of a dragon as a decal on the front of her armour.
Jin roared, announcing its presence to the enemy.
"Easy there, Jin. You'll get your blood." Jane pressed her hand to her ear. "Joker, you there?"
"I'm here, Shepard. I'm available for support."
"Good. Kaidan, soften them up."
"Yes, SL," Kaidan replied as he pulled out his laser pointer. "Marking target." He aimed the pointer at the dead center of the ant horde.
"Target locked!" Joker announced. He flew in over the battlefield in Typhoon's private frigate, SSV Marathon.
The Marathon unleashed a barrage of plasma attacks on the location Kaidan marked. The explosions took up a large portion of the ant's attacking force.
"Attack successful. Sure did ruin their picnic."
"Now for the main course," Vega said as he primed his two force blades. On his back were his two mortars attached to his battery pack.
"Incoming bees!" EDI warned.
"Activating turrets!" Kaidan replied.
Kaidan's two turret came to life and fired at the bees.
"Jin, go, go, go!" Shepard smacked Jin in his right shoulder blade.
Jin flapped his wings and was airborne. The dragon unleashed its flame breath into a cluster of bees setting it ablaze. The bees fell to the ground coated in flames.
"Ants are closing in," Vega reminded the team.
"Setting up barrier walls to stop acid attacks," EDI said as she placed several devices on the ground. Each on created a wall twenty feet tall and ten feet wide.
"Firing on the ants." Vega launched plasma mortars on the newly grouped ants. "Direct hit!"
The green explosions launched dozens of ants into the air. One ant was still alive as it was launched. Jin swoop by and grabbed it out of the air. He dug into his treat as he flew.
Dragons while powerful creatures, had an extremely high metabolism. They had to eaten often throughout the day just to keep up its strength.
Shepard switched to her rocket launcher and fired it at any bees that came close to her or her dragon. Lasers were still being shot into the air around her. Thankfully due to the precision of the turrets, Shepard had no fear of being shot.
Below, the ants attempted to spray acid at the ground team but EDI's shielding stopped them. The ants walked through the barriers to attack them directly.
"Now you're in my range," Vega said as he swung his right sword. A line of energy passed through the ants directly in front of him. It moved through the ants for about 40 meters before it dissipated. He started charging the sword again and turned his head to the right seeing another group of ants closing in on him. "You wants some too?" He swung his left sword.
"Looks like he's having fun," EDI observed.
"Be honest, EDI," Kaidan said. "This is fun."
The ants were almost on top of EDI's position. "True." She created a dozen holographic copies of herself on the battlefield. The ants became confused as the copies appeared on the battlefield. One of the ants attempted to attack one of the holograms. EDI smiled. "Got you." The ant was electrocuted with a high voltage. The electricity jumped among the close by ants.
Kaidan had his sticky grenade launcher. He fired green plasma grenades that stuck to ants on the outskirts of the group. Once his launcher was emptied, he activated the grenades. It created a line of explosions that moved the ants inwards into a bunch making it easier for Vegas and EDI to eliminate them.
"Guys, I'm ready for another strike," Joker announced over the radio.
Kaidan took out his laser pointer. He aimed at the cluster of ants he created. "Finish them off, Joker."
The Marathon flew stright down from the sky and fired downwards at the ground before pulling up. The plasma barrage impacted the ant hordes creating a large explosion that enveloped the ant horde. After the light from the explosion died out, all that remained on the ground was one ant.
"That seems anti-climatic," Vegas muttered after seeing the ant.
"Not everything can end with one big explosion," Kaidan said as he undeploy his turrets.
"So. Who wants it?"
Before anyone could try to call it, Jin landed on the ant and began feasting on its prey. The sky was clear of bees.
"Well that answers that," Vegas shrugged.
Shepard jumped off of Jin. "That seems to be the end of it."
"Not very challenging," Vegas sighed.
No sooner had those words left his lips when a large ship flew over head. The team looked up and saw the cruiser-sized ship.
"Is that a..."
"Everybody, battle positions!" Shepard order as she jumped back on Jin's back. They took off into the air. "I'll keep it busy while you prepare."
The large metallic grey ship spun around on spot to face Typhoon. The parts of the ship shifted and extended. The ship flipped forward and morphed into a giant bipedal mech. The machine was easily a kilometer in height. It was equipped with giant plasma casters for forearms.
"Argo!" Vega yelled.
"Joker, I need a vehicle drop!" Kaidan demanded through the radio.
"Holy shit, is that an Argo?!" Joker yelled.
"Now, Joker!"
"Oh! Yeah! What do you need?"
"Drop the Kraken and Megalodon!"
"Coming right up."
The Marathon flew over head and dropped two large containers. The crates slammed into the ground and quickly dissipated leaving their cargo behind. One crate contained the BMV or Bipedal Mech Vehicle. The BMV was designated the Kraken. It was twenty feet tall and armed with a rail gun on its left arm, two rocket pods on its back, laser pointer and a powerful robotic hand for the right arm.
The other, the Megalodon, was a heavily armoured tank that hovered thanks to four thrusters that came out from its sides. For its weaponry, it was armed with a railgun as its primary weapon and a rocketpod for air units.
Kaidan jumped into the Kraken while EDI took the Meg. Vega jumped onto the top of the tank.
The Argo raised its arms and fired several rounds at the Marathon. The frigate dodged each shot barely by meters.
Shepard flew her dragon near the Argo's face. The dragon spat fire at the mech's face while Shepard fired several rockets from her launcher. "We need to do a combined assault," Shepard said over the radio. "Joker can you do another run?"
"Yes, Shepard."
The Argo swung its arm to swat Shepard. Shepard and Jin dodge the arm and continued distracting it while her squad got close enough to fire. "I need everyone to focus fire on the groin area," she ordered. "That's where it's weakest. The joints are not as reinforced as the upper area."
The vehicles stopped and aimed their railguns at the kilometer tall mech. Vega jumped off of the Meg and aimed his mortars.
"We're in position, SL," Kaidan announced on the radio.
"Kaidan mark the target. Everyone fire!"
The three squad mates unleashed a barrage against the Argo's groin. Shepard continued attacking its face to keep its targetting computer from attacking her squad mates. She could see the damage to the mech from her squad's was starting to weaken the Argo.
"I have target lock," Joker said. "Get out of there, Shepard!"
Jin flapped its wings and sped away. The Marathon flew towards the Argo and fired a full salvo at the area Kaidan marked. Combined with the ground assault, the groin area of the mech explosion in a large bright green explosion. Shepard and Jin could feel the heat of the explosion. The Argo's upper torso flipped forward as its bottom half was annihilated. The Argo face-planted the ground and its head and neck was crushed under the weight of the torso.
The Argo suffered a second explosion shortly after as its internal systems overloaded. Shepard just landed as it went off. Kaidan and EDI came out of their vehicle to join with Shepard.
Vega chuckled. "Bad asses never look at the explosion, right?" He held his hand up for a high-five. Shepard slapped it and laughed as well.
"I didn't think the ADF allowed Argos as a part of training," Kaidan said in disbelief.
"We usually don't but this was a special exception," a voice answered.
The squad turned around and saw a woman who looked almost exactly like Jane Shepard.
"Mom?" Jane muttered as she walked forward.
Jane and Hannah opened their arms as they approached and hugged.
"It's so good to see you, Jane. It seems your team is doing well."
"An honour to meet with you, m'am," Vegas said.
"Likewise, private. EDI, good to see you again."
"Same to you, Admiral," EDI replied.
"Did you all have fun with your training session?"
"You set this up," Kaidan said as he walked up to her. "The Argo?"
"Not me directly," Hannah said. "The ADF wanted to test your team out in the most extreme situation we can possibly create."
"Why?" Jane asked.
"There was a situation at Shanxi."
"The reapers?" Shepard jumped to conclusions.
"Thankfully no. We made contact with a new alien race. The turians. They attacked some of our scouts and then attempted to invade Shanxi. The ADF was able to easily repel them, but we are expecting a second and larger wave. We want your team there, Jane. We want to show these turians and every alien in the galaxy that humanity is not a race they want to mess with. Will your team help us in that matter?"
"You need to asked? My team definitely wants in."
Hannah walked over to Jin. Jin immediately recognized her and lowered his head. "Hello, Jin." She scratched his chin. Jin purred at the affection. "He's looking well. To think he used to be small enough to fit in your arms when you hatched him as a little girl."
"So, when should my team leave?"
"Right now would be good, but a word to the wise, hon. Don't let Jin eat any turians."
"Don't want a diplomatic situation?"
"No. They apparently have dextro-rotational DNA or something like that. I don't want Jin to have a nasty stomach ache."
