CHAPTER 2: PREPARE YOURSELVES

"Your galaxy is in sight…your final days are at hand."

-Object Rho

Normandy Crew Deck Lounge

February 25, 2186

Garrus Vakarian gazed out across the stars through port side window as he drank a dextro-beer. Another slow day on the Normandy as usual. As the new Shadow Broker, Liara occasionally had some intel for them to follow up on but so far it was mostly dead ends. Most days were spent like this one: monitoring all the information channels for any sign of the Reapers but finding nothing. It didn't seem right to him. There should be so much more to do with Reapers on the way. But they weren't something a rogue vigilante and a handful of fighters could take on alone. He should at least be doing something more productive, he thought, like the others.

"But here I am sitting on my ass and drinking beer," Garrus thought. But someone had to hold the fort with Shepard gone. And he figured there would be no down time for anyone when the Reapers arrived, so they might as well enjoy it while it lasted. He just wished the rest of the gang was there too.

"Any news, Sir," Jacob said as he walked in.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" Garrus responded. "I'm not the Commander. This is his ship. I'm just watching it for him."

EDI chimed in. "Both Commander Shepard and executive officer Lawson were very clear that you are to be in charge of the Normandy."

He remembered, and it had taken him somewhat by surprise when it happened. He knew he was going to stay but he did not expect to be given command.

"Why couldn't Miranda just take over?" Garrus asked. "She seemed fine ordering us around before most of us even trusted her. She's used to this job."

"So are you," said Jacob. "You lead a squad of vigilantes with no organized support that managed to drop Omega's crime rate single handedly."

"I got them all killed," Garrus replied grimly.

"It wasn't your fault," Jacob countered. "And when you found the guy responsible you spared him. You saw the bigger picture, beyond just revenge. That's the mark of a good leader. Look at Zaeed and what he tried to pull on Zorya. You're better than that. Give yourself more credit. Hell, I don't think we would have survived that little diversion at the Collector Base if you hadn't been leading us."

"Thanks Jacob," Garrus replied, "but I'm sure we'd have done just as well with you in charge, better maybe. Can I get you a drink?"

"Sure, sounds good," said Jacob as he sat down at the small bar next to Garrus.

"You guys sure have been tearing through all the human beers," Garrus joked. "We're almost out."

"Yeah, I guess you're well-stocked though," Jacob said. "With Tali gone, you've got the dextros all to yourself. Then again, I can't imagine her drinking too much anyway."

Garrus laughed and said, "Don't let her bubbly little girl act fool you. Tali has more responsibility to deal with than any of us did at her age. Sure we've both commanded troops before but we were only responsible for a small squad at most and there were always plenty of people higher up the chain of command. Now she's at the top of it. She's an Admiral responsible for her entire race."

"Can't imagine that..." said Jacob.

"She wasn't even considered a full adult when she joined Shepard to help stop Saren," Garrus said. "Then she joined up with us again to fight the Collectors. She's seen more action than most ever do and she's got some great stories, especially after a few beers have made her more talkative."

"You two must be pretty close, after everything you've been through together," said Jacob.

"Yeah," Garrus replied. "She's a good friend..."

The lounge door opened and Miranda walked in. "Having a little guys' night and drinking on the job? I'm disappointed," she said. "

"Wha-?" Garrus started.

"-Disappointed that you didn't include Joker," Miranda continued. "I think he gets lonely up on the bridge, especially with the ship so empty as it is."

"You care about all of us now?" Garrus joked.

"I've always cared about this crew's safety and well-being," Miranda responded, "Couldn't survive a successful Collector Base assault without a full squad focused on the task. But we've been through a lot together and it's more than that now. You know that up until recently I had no family to speak of and well...I think all of us make a sort of family together. A good one."

"Likewise Miranda," Garrus replied happily, "I never pictured this happening back when we first met, but I'm glad you're here… And I'm sorry about all the crap I gave you and Shepard before. You guys are good for each other. And I may not trust Cerberus, but I trust you."

Cronos Station

Location Unknown

The Illusive Man lit a cigarette as he read over the various reports coming in from his intelligence network. He had known this day was coming for the past thirty years, ever since he was exposed to the Reaper Monolith on Shanxi, and he had been planning for it ever since. Cerberus had come a long way in the past year, thanks in large part to his scientists' study of the preserved Collector Base. Now it was time to put his plans and that technology into action.

"Are the prototypes ready, Agent Leng?" He asked.

"The first ten squadrons are combat ready, sir," Kai Leng answered. "They should be able to hold their own against a Reaper. The men are calling them, Nephilim class."

"Fitting name, given their origins," the Illusive Man said. "Their effectiveness will be tested soon enough. Which means it's time for Commander Shepard to leave that prison cell back on Earth."

"With all due respect, sir, Shepard has already played his part," Leng replied. "Now he's a liability."

"Commander Shepard's real part in this was done as soon as Agent Lawson's team succeeded in resurrecting him," the Illusive Man told him. "But he is still a very useful asset to us."

"His true loyalty is still to the Alliance," Leng said. "We're lucky he didn't betray us and turn that Base over to them instead of Cerberus."

"That was not an unforeseen possibility," the Illusive Man said. "And it would not have affected our plans. The real value of the Collector Base was the information it contained. Now that we know how to reverse engineer their technology, we can manufacture it anywhere given the proper resources. Having the Base just makes it easier."

"And if the Alliance did get a hold of it?" Leng asked.

"They wouldn't know what to do with it," the Illusive Man replied. "They couldn't unlock its full potential. They don't have the key."

"The Cipher," Leng said.

"Exactly," the Illusive Man continued. "That was the Lazarus Project's true goal. Commander Shepard's knowledge of the Reapers, status as a heroic symbol, and his many connections are all extremely beneficial to our cause. But those are all replacable. The Prothean Cipher in his head is why we needed him alive."

"I'm surprised he hasn't caught on yet," Leng replied. "You spent billions of credits to bring him back, and then asked him to take on a suicide mission."

"Shepard may have his suspicions, but he's more focused on the Reapers at this point," the Illusive Man said. "As we all should be."

"Why wasn't Miranda told the true purpose of the Project?" Leng asked. "She was in charge of it."

"Both her and Shepard had a mission to complete after it was done," the Illusive Man said. "Knowing they were expendable would have greatly hindered their effectiveness. We had to let them think that they were special, that their team was our only hope. Otherwise they wouldn't have done it."

Normandy Crew Deck Lounge

"I'm just curious, Miranda. Why the name Cerberus?" Garrus asked. "What does it mean?"

Before she could answer, EDI chimed in: "Cerberus. A mythological three-headed canine, pet of Hades, the god of the dead, and guardian of the underworld in human Greek mythology."

"I know that," Garrus said. "But what does it have to do with human supremacy? Why make their symbol a dog?"

"There's more to it," Miranda replied. "According to myth Hades was the god of the earth itself, not just the underworld and the dead. Cerberus guarded its depths from those above."

"Ah, so you guard the Earth and humanity from the other races," Garrus replied.

"Given that the Charon Relay is Earth's gateway to the rest of the galaxy, the name seemed appropriate at the time, I suppose," Miranda told him. "A little ironic considering that for everyone else we're the invasive newcomers."

"Do you guys think that everyone will just put these things aside and work together when it's time to fight the Reapers?" Jacob asked.

"Humanity will," Garrus answered. "Compared to the rest of us, humans have a short memory. They'll welcome people who were once their enemies as allies pretty readily if the circumstances are right. The rest of us, I'm not so sure. Our bad blood goes deeper."

"If we're going to have any chance at all in this war, they're going to have to," Jacob said.

"That's why we need Shepard," Garrus told him. "He's the one who can bring them all together."

Arcturus Station

February 27, 2186

"Sir, we're getting some strange reports from the deep-field scanning team you put together," Colonel Harris said. "It was supposed to be science project, but now they're seeing some kind of massive objects moving towards us at the exact coordinates you ordered them to look at. They're throwing off all kinds of energy signatures: heat, EM, dark energy…What is going on?"

"Get me Admiral Anderson on the line," Admiral Hackett said. "And send a message to command using the emergency codes. Tell them to start mobilizing everything we've got right now. The reports said the objects are moving towards us, how long until they get here?"

"About a week, give or take," the colonel replied.

Council Meeting Room

The Citadel

March 1, 2186

"Admiral Anderson, the Alliance military's actions over the past few days has been highly troubling," the Asari Councilor said to the QED-generated hologram in the middle of the room.

"Why has the Alliance military began a massive mobilization without the consent of its governing bodies and in direct violation of Council law?" Councilor Udina asked.

"This show of force has escalated border tensions all across the galaxy," the Turian Councilor said. "The other races are beginning a counter-mobilization effort in response to this human aggression. These rogue actions within your military have put us on the brink of war."

"They should be mobilizing, Councilors," Anderson replied. "We are on the brink of the war."

"Explain yourself," the Salarian Councilor said.

"We couldn't risk sending this information over an unsecured channel," Anderson said, as he pressed a few buttons on his Omni-tool and transferred some data files to the Council. "We're picking up something massive on long range scanners, energy readings are consistent with ships of some kind. It's not just space debris. They're headed this way, fast…We think it's the Reapers."

"Impossible…" the Turian Councilor said.

"The data is right in front of you," Anderson told him. "Reapers or not, something is on its way here right now. We have less than a week until it reaches us."

"What would you have us do?" the Asari Councilor asked.

"Prepare for the worst," Anderson replied.

Alliance Command Center

Earth

March 2, 2186

Lieutenant James Vega entered Shepard's cell and saluted. "Commander," he said.

"You're not supposed to call me that anymore James," Shepard replied.

"Not supposed to salute you either," James said. "C'mon, we've got to go. The defense committee wants to see you."

"The committee?" Shepard asked as he followed James out of the room. "What's this about?"

"Couldn't say," James replied. "They just said they needed you…now."

Shepard saw Admiral Anderson approaching through a crowd of Alliance officials frantically checking their omni-tools and running off in different directions. This was serious.

"What's going on?" he asked the admiral. "Why is everyone in such a hurry?"

"Admiral Hackett's mobilizing the fleets," Anderson replied. "Something big is headed our way."

"The Reapers?" Shepard asked.

"We don't know yet, not for certain," Anderson replied.

"What else could it be?" Shepard said.

"If I knew that…" Anderson started.

"It's the Reapers," Shepard said grimly. "And we're not ready for them. Not by a long shot."

"Tell that to the defense committee," Anderson said.

"It's too late for that," Shepard replied. "They should have listened when I warned them two years ago."

"I agree with you, but this isn't the time Shepard," Anderson told him. "Right now we need to focus on stopping the Reapers, and you know more about this enemy than anyone. Do you want to waste what little time we have left complaining about how the Alliance handled this or do you want to help us do something about it?"

Shepard and Anderson entered the war room and approached the central table the committee was gathered around.

"Has Shepard been briefed?" Admiral Mikhailovich asked.

"Well enough," Anderson replied.

"Good," Mikhailovich said. "Let's get straight to the point then. You're the expert on these things, Shepard. The Alliance as a whole may not have believed you before, and I'm sorry for that, but you've got our attention now. What do we do?"

"I'm a soldier, not a strategist," Shepard responded. "I command small strike teams, not entire fleet. That being said, based on what I know about their past incursions from the Prothean A.I. on Ilos I do have some ideas about how to fight the Reapers… but you're not going to like them."

"We'll do what we have to," Mikhailovich replied. "Whatever it takes. Go on."

"The best way to fight these things is to stay mobile," Shepard continued. "They'll hit our supply lines fast, so whatever resources you've got: food, weapons, ammo, unload all of it now, before we lose it. The Reapers do things systematically, world by world, system by system. We don't stand a chance against them in a stand up fight and static defenses are practically useless against them. Arcturus Station, the colonies, even Earth will fall easily. Don't waste our ships defending them. It's a lost cause."

"Just abandon the people we're sworn to protect?" Anderson asked.

"We have no choice," Shepard answered. "Even if we did try to defend them, the Reapers would cut through our lines like butter. Our best option is to retreat initially, then hit the Reapers with a series of counter-attacks from their flanks. Harass them with guerilla warfare as a delaying tactic."

"Delaying tactic for what?" Anderson asked.

"To give the rest of the galaxy more time to prepare," Shepard replied. "…And for Cerberus to try and complete their secret weapon."

The room went silent. After a moment Admiral Anderson said, "You said you told us everything, Shepard."

"I lied," Commander Shepard replied.

Alliance News Network Broadcast

March 4, 2186

FLOOD OF BATARIAN TRAFFIC BRINGS RUMORS OF WAR

UTOPIA SYSTEM – A massive influx of Batarian ships is raising tensions in the Exodus Cluster, putting Alliance forces on high alert. According to Alliance officials, the ships came from the Batarian-held Harsa relay with minimal warning, some barreling right through. The Alliance reportedly fired on some of the ships with the intent to disable them.

"It's a miracle any of them are still alive," one human frigate captain said. According to the Batarians, they are neither invaders nor defectors, but refugees. They claim a hostile species has attacked the Hegemony's fleet, bombarding Khar'shan and other batarian planets.

With the Harsa comm buoy system crippled, communication is sporadic at best between far-flung Batarians and their government on Khar'shan. Some refugees claim the attackers were Council. Others blame the Geth or even the Rachni. All report that the enemy, in whatever form, is blockading the relay, destroying most spacecraft trying to make it through. The refugees are not solely civilians. Hegemony Commander, Eruz Mathat, who is under guard while his cruiser is inspected, was blunt in his assessment of the situation. "I never thought I would say this to the human navy," he said, "but we need you."

Normandy Bridge

"Oh no," Kasumi said worriedly. "No, no, no, no… they're really here."

"That has to be them on Khar'Shan," Jacob said. "Still…I thought we'd have more time."

"We did have more time," Miranda told him as she paced the bridge. "Between stopping Sovereign at the Citadel and destroying the Alpha Relay Shepard bought us three years. If the Alliance hadn't come after him…or if he hadn't turned himself over to them…maybe he could have found another way to stall them, stop them even…I don't know, dammit."

"He did everything he could," Garrus replied, overlooking the galaxy map. "He cut off all their shortcuts, but we couldn't stop them from just flying here on their own. And taking the long way must have cost them a ton of energy. He helped wear them down a little at least."

"I hope you're right," Miranda said. "But as powerful as they are, does it even matter if they're not at full strength? The combined dreadnoughts of several fleets were barely enough to beat Sovereign, and that was after Shepard took down its shields."

"It doesn't matter now," Garrus said. "We've got some better tech on our ships now. Maybe that will be enough to stop them, maybe not, but either way we have to face them now."

"We're going to need Shepard for that," Miranda said. "EDI, set a course for Earth… and contact the Illusive Man. If Cerberus really does have a plan for fighting these things, now's the time."

Alliance Command Center

Earth

March 5, 2186

"Why did you lie to us, Shepard?" Anderson asked. "To me?"

"It doesn't matter now," Shepard replied.

"The hell it doesn't!" Anderson told him. "I thought we were in this together. I've risked my career for you more than once, because I trusted you. And you've been lying to us this whole time."

"I didn't have a choice," Shepard said. "If I had told the Alliance about Cerberus's plans they would have tried to stop them, started a war with Cerberus. Both sides can't afford that, just like we couldn't afford to start a war with the Batarians. That weapon they're working on could be our best chance against the Reapers."

"And you trust them with it?" Anderson asked. "You've seen their sick experiments, how reckless they are with dangerous technology. You really think they'll only use it against the Reapers?"

"They were the only ones set up to do this," Shepard replied. "Transfer to the Alliance would have taken too long, and we had to do something with that technology. You know our military doesn't stand a chance against the Reapers as it is."

"So you gambled on Cerberus instead?" Anderson asked. "That's a hell of a risk."

"It was the tactical choice," Shepard said. "Maybe it was a bad idea, maybe it wasn't, but if I had done nothing or destroyed that tech we'd definitely be doomed. A chance is better than nothing."

"You really think this will work?" Anderson asked him.

"I don't know," Shepard replied. "But it's our only shot at this point. What else can we do?"

"You're betting everything on this," Anderson said. "Is it really worth it? Abandoning the people we're supposed to protect, just throwing them to the Reapers to buy time?"

"The Alliance can't protect them," Shepard answered. "How long do you think they can hold out against an entire fleet of Reapers? A few hours maybe, if that. Earth will fall… but we can take it back. I'll do my best to fight them here, protect who I can until the cavalry comes."

"Forget it," Anderson said. "You're leaving. I'll handle the frontlines. We need you to lead the counterattack. Rally our allies, everything we've got. That's an order."

"I don't take orders from you anymore," Shepard replied. "Remember?"

"Consider yourself reinstated, Commander," Anderson said as he handed him his Alliance dog tags.