Chapter two - The Station.
Deep within the gas giants system, the Shepard dropped into normal space. Accelerating to full military thrust, she threaded her way deeper into the system and towards the star as the centre of the system.
Before she slowed at the third planet from the sun, a large gas giant twice the size of Jupiter, as she then began to orbit the large planet.
One of the Shepard's shuttle craft departed and made its way towards the station.
Onboard the shuttle Ashley, Garrus and Javik were seated in the mid section.
"Okay people, we're ten minuets out, Jacik I'm getting a signal from the station." The young female Turian pilot, Durona 'Angel' Saberil called back into the crew compartment.
"Reply with the counter sign I gave you." Javik replied sternly.
"Okay signal sent, now lets hope we don't get shot at or blown to bits." She half joked.
A moments later the whole shuttle jolted; "By the spirits!" Swore Durona.
"Report!" Snapped Ashley.
"We've been caught up in a gravitational field, the shuttles unresponsive Commander."
"This is too be expected, although I am surprised that the field is still operational after all this time." Javik stated calmly, which drew a stern look from Ashley.
"Expected, Javik sharing mission critical information is an important part of being in a team." Ashley replied trying to hold in her anger and frustrated.
"I apologise Commander, however I fail to see the problem."
"So would you care to explain what this system is?" Ashley snapped back in anger, which Javik ignored.
"To put in simply its a gravitational field, which encapsulates a vessel and brings it safely into the station."
"And is there anyway to deactivate it?" Ashley asked her voice now sharp.
"No." He snarled.
The shuttle was slowly drawn passed the wrecks and debris.
A moment later the whole station light up before them.
"Edi scan for life signs." Ashley barked.
"None." Edi replied simply.
Before them a vast hanger door opened, inside which could be seen three Prothean fighter craft.
The design of the craft looked aggressive, the wings were of a swept back design, and the cockpit design look similar to that of alliance fighters.
Slung under each wing was an elegant beam weapon pod.
A single glance at vessel was all that was needed to tell that it was meant for one thing, war.
"I'm in love!" Whispered Durona, from the pilots seat.
"What was that flight Lieutenant?" Ashley enquired.
"Nothing Commander, just admiring the vessels we're heading towards."
The shuttle came to a stop as it was deposited on the deck of the hanger, and the large hanger door closed behind them.
"The bay's been pressurised, you're clear to exit." Durona announced to her passengers.
Alighting from the shuttle Ashley's eyes were drawn to the three alien fighter craft.
They were unlike anything she'd seen before, turning to Javik she asked; "Are these Prothean?"
"Yes, once they were feared throughout known space."
A bright light announced the arrival of the Prothean AI.
"I am Endeavour keeper of this installation," the AI paused as it looked towards Javik. "You are Protean?"
"I am Commander Javik virtue of Vengeance." Javik proclaimed proudly.
"Yes I am aware of your mission, it appears it was unsuccessful." The AI replied his voice lacked any kind of emotion.
"You could say that, I alone emerged from the bunker. But from failure sprang victory, I made allies and we defeated the Reapers. I came her to search for information that could lead me to find more of our people. I alone cannot be the last, others may still be sleeping waiting."
"I do have full detailed plans from before the fall, which I am will to disclose to you Javik, but only to you."
"Excuse me..." Ashley interpreted. "And what about us."
"What about you." The AI spoke in a manor of a teacher talking down to a troublesome student.
"Javik is part of my crew, and as such I am his commanding officer." Ashley spat her temper about to erupt.
"But you are not Prothean." The AI replied coldly.
"The information I impart is for the virtue of Vengeance only. If he deems you worthy he may relay the information to you afterwards."
"You just wait a god damned moment." Ashley snapped.
With a sudden flash both the AI and Javik disappeared.
"Edi, what the hell just happened?"
" I am processing the data of the last few moments." She replied confusing playing within her voice.
"Damn, way to have the door slammed in your face Ash." Garrus quipped.
Ashley shot him a look, a look that told him he best be quite.
"Commander I have surmised a theory." Edi announced which broke the awkward silence between Ashley and Garrus.
"Go on."
"As we know Prothean society was more advanced then anything we currently possess in this cycle. Thu it's fair to presume that Javik kept just how advanced they were to himself. However there are early records from the Hanar home world, which describe how the Enkindlers could simply vanish into thin air. If this is a fully functional Protean station, then it is fair to assume it to would have the ability of matter transportation."
"Matter transportation, are you sure?"
"Commander look at that facts before you." Edi replied in a matter of fact manor.
"That may be so, but I want to known just how come this one station managed to escape the Reapers?" Garrus spoke out loud to no one in particular.
"Edi send over Miranda, Liara T'soni and a guard."
"Confirmed commander."
Ten minuets later.
The second shuttle touched down next to the first, Miranda made her way over to Ashley.
"Edi has brought us up to speed."
"Good, Miranda take Liara and see if you can gain access to the terminal over there behind the fighters. I want you to gain as much information as you can, see just where this stations been, and what happened to the crew."
"Of course Commander."
As both Miranda and Edi walked over to the console, Ashley and Garrus walked over to the three fighters.
Garrus studied the Prothean fighter carefully, it was unlike anything he'd seen before.
It was meant for one thing, and that was war.
Using the inbuilt stairs on the side of the craft, Garrus climbed up and glanced into the cockpit.
"What you looking at." Durona called up to him.
"One hell of a fighter, the cockpit design is nothing like I've encountered before. And trust me I've seen my fair share of shuttles and fighters in my time on the citadel and during the war."
"I know you have Garrus, but you seem to have forgotten that I'm the pilot here, I've flown more sorties during the war over the home world then you can count." She boasted.
"True enough, but still, why don't you look at the craft next to this, tell me what you think in your 'expert' opinion;" he teased.
Meanwhile - Hidden location in the station.
Endeavour stood next to Javik as they watched the monitor before them.
"The female Turian seems pretty sure of herself." He spoke to Javik, who simply nodded in reply.
"Their race would have made a perfect addition to the empire." The AI continued.
"Agreed, and from what we have discussed thus far, they may still do. However that is if we find the bunkers and the sleeping warriors. Let us just hope that they're untouched by time or salvagers."
"Commander the vessel is ready to depart, and I shall transfer to the vessel's main frame on your order. Should I activate the station self destruct mechanism?"
"No, let the young have it. I saw with my own eyes that one race had kept our knowledge for themselves. They refused to share it with the other younger races. That it something that will not permit to happen again. Endeavour is the AI copy of yourself ready for operation?"
"It is indeed Commander."
"Very well, open communications with the human Ashley Williams."
Hanger Bay.
Ashley had been working on the console for some twenty minuets and frankly getting nowhere with it.
"Having any luck your end?" she asked Miranda.
It was at that time a holographic image of Javik appeared next to them both.
"Commander I will not be accompanying you on your journey any further. I have found evidence that a fraction of my race may still yet live. I am leaving with Endeavour forthwith; but as a parting gift I leave you this station, and an AI to help you understand our knowledge held within. However commander this is not for just one race, it is for all within the council races."
With that the image vanished.
Space - Outside the Station.
A Prothean Venom class frigate emerged from a hanger at the base of the station, the engines erupted into life as she powered pass the Shepard.
Reaching the mass effect gate, it jumped away.