This chapter has OOC's and OC's so be warned. There are a few time jumps but that is to progress the story. I thought I would give you a third chapter since I felt like I cheated you guys and ladies with that short chapter. I Hope you enjoy this chapter and that it makes up for the last one.


With the Alien attack of 1996 and again twenty years later, Humanity had learned to always be cautious when dealing with anything alien. Never again would Humanity be surprised and brought to the brink of extinction. Reverse engineering the alien technology Humanity rebuilt their planet and went on to colonize their solar system. One discovery on mars would open up the galaxy to a cautious yet powerful Humanity.


Chapter three: Colonies and Second Contact.

ESD Constantinople

"Sir all sections report secure and ready for transit through the gate way."

The Captain nodded his head to confirm that he heard what the XO had said. "Helm engage thrusters half ahead and begin approaching the gate way." The Captain then sat down and secured himself in his chair not wanting to get thrown across the bridge again.

"Five seconds until we hit the gate way Captain."

"Good now try not to scratch the paint this time."

"Ha Captain's got jokes." The pilot mumbled under his breath keeping his attention on the gate way and watching as a tendril reached out and latched onto the ship.

In a matter of moments the Constantinople was hurled from the Arcturus system back to the sol system.

"Comm get me the Miller and prep a data burst ready to send over for intel."

"Roger sir contacting the Miller now. Data Burst will be ready in just a moment."

"Very well" the Captain sighed knowing that the next few days would be interesting.

Earth
ESD HQ
Four days later

To say that Admiral Wes was surprised would have been a monumental understatement. The fact that the rest of the Alliance Parliament was just as shocked was beside the point.

"Admiral are you sure of the findings from Second fleet?"

"Yes Councilors I am. After the Constantinople returned from the Arcturus system and reported back to Admiral Drescher with their findings. Drescher sent his fleet through the gate way to secure the other end. He sent images back of the new system and is also requesting a second fleet in system just in case they encounter hostiles." Wes stopped to take a drink of water from the glass that was in front of him. Setting the cup back down once he was satisfied his throat was no longer parched he continued. "I have authorized fourth fleet to rendezvous with second fleet along with twelve mining ships to begin mining operations on any asteroids in the system."

"Admiral having two fleets in a possible enemy system leaves us exposed to possible attack."

The Admiral gave the Parliament a deadpanned look. "We have sixteen fleets that are stationed in the inner solar system alone not to mention the ten that are stationed in the outer solar system. Sending one fleet from each still leaves a total of twenty four fleets in the system. This still makes it very crowded once you add in all the civilian tanker fleets and traffic."

"I say we colonize this system or at least turn it into a military hub." Another Councilor said seeing the benefits to humanity expanding out past their solar system.

"I agree with the Councilor, we need to expand otherwise we will exhaust every resource in our system within the next three years. You all know this, you've seen the reports. We need this so I recommend that we proceed. The ESD can convert our moth ball fleet into a colonization fleet."

"How long would that take Admiral?"

"Since we have already removed all classified materials from each ship it can be done in one month."

"And since their will already be two fleets in the Arcturus system we don't have to send an escort correct?"

Wes thought about it for a few moments before agreeing with that statement. "That would be true until we decide to locate another gate way and explore the other side."

"Do we know if there is another gate way in the Arcturus system?"

"Not yet ladies and gentlemen but it's a safe bet to assume that there is probably another one."

"Very well if there is nothing else this meeting is dismissed. Admiral we will let you know in two days if you can begin converting the moth ball fleet for colonization efforts."

"Thank you chancellor." With that Wes stood up and left the Parliament building to begin plans of not only converting the moth ball fleet but to expand Humanities military capabilities as well.

Three years later
2156

Arcturus station had been active for one year but in that year it had seen humanity expand into two other systems and start seven new colonies as well as add two more fleets with a third slated for completion at the beginning of 2157.

Shepard was in the armory reassembling her plasma rifle after cleaning it for the sixth time in a month. 'Blasted contraption' she thought to herself while suppressing the urge to throw the weapon across the armory bay.

"Hey Violet just fuck the damn thing it'll stop giving you a hard time." An Australian accented voice called from behind the angry red head.

"Fucking hell will you stop calling me that Lawson? Besides unlike you I don't like to use my weapons as a dildo it's bad for them."

Miranda suppressed a laugh at her friend's expense before answering. "I won't stop calling you Violet because of your eyes and calling you carrot top or ranga is too conventional."

"You are so lucky Admiral Drescher is visiting today otherwise the ass kicking I'd give you would be worth the trip to the brig."

"Is that a promise? Because that sounds a little like foreplay to me love."

"Only you would think that getting your ass kicked qualified as foreplay Lawson."

Giggling Miranda slung herself off of Constance and purred into her ear. "When are you going to swear off dick and let me take you for a spin?"

Leaning into the Australian beauty Shepard whispered back, "Sadly I don't see that happening Miranda. I just like dick."

This caused Miranda to pout. "Such a shame I would have made you scream out to the heavens."

"Ha okay if that's what you want to believe keep telling yourself that."

"Admiral on deck" was shouted and both women jumped to attention.

"Lawson I know you're good at job but stop trying to seduce Shepard. She's not one of those alien rights morons that still pop up from time to time." Drescher said getting the brunette to at least blush from embarrassment. "I take it everything in the armory is running efficiently?"

"Yes sir" Shepard said a little too sharply.

"I meant no offense Marine, I just wanted to see if the ground forces for the fleet escorting the colonization fleet to Shanxi were properly outfitted with the necessary gear and that it actually worked."

"Yes sir and I apologize for my tone."

"Just keep that temper in check report to your CO when you are done Marine."

One word came to Constance's mind when she heard that, 'Fuck'. Saluting the Admiral she turned around and continued assembling her weapon before heading up to her CO's office to get her ass chewed off again.

"You've must have lost your god damned mind Shepard. What the fuck did you think you were doing snapping at an Admiral like that? You think I enjoy getting my ass chewed out for your fuck ups?" Shepard's commanding officer yelled. "Well I'm fucking waiting Shepard."

"I took offense to the Admiral questioning our gear sir."

"Oh okay you took offense at a question then I guess everything is settled right Shepard? Well it's not you fucking idiot. Your actions or lack thereof poorly represent me and make it look like our entire unit is full of mavericks with disciplinary issues. You have shit duty for the next month now get the fuck out of my sight and office." With that the CO grabbed a cigar and lit it using an old fashioned match. He looked up and saw a still shocked Shepard and slammed his fist down on the desk getting her attention and glared. "I said get the fuck out now fuck stick."

"Yes sir" Shepard barked out before saluting and running in all but name to get out of the CO's office and of the O-deck(1). She'd go to her quarters after she talked to Lawson. 'Fuck me that sucked' she mussed to herself when she finally made it to the chow hall and found Miranda who had somehow saved her some of the chow that was served during her ass chewing.

"How was it?"

"Don't ask Lawson, but it's safe to say I'll be walking with a limp for a while." Shepard said while exaggerating a limb and grimace on her face. "How did you manage to save me what passes for food on this heap?" she asked when she finally sat down.

"Don't ask and I won't have to lie to you." Miranda said a little too innocently.

"Uh huh, then I won't ask you."

"Good, so what's the punishment?" Miranda asked.

"Shit duty for the next month."

"So in other words, one week on ship and three on the ground at Shanxi."

"You guessed it in one. You got to love the punishments from before the invasions." Shepard said while sighing.

"Yeah though I don't see how they are going to let you burn shit on ship. Maybe make you clean out all the heads but not actually burn it. Ground side is going to be fun for you when we hit Shanxi."

"Shut up Daisy duke."

Chuckling at Shepard's weak insult Miranda got up and headed towards her quarters to answer some emails before hitting the rack.

Sighing Constance poked at what she guessed was pork before giving up and throwing it down the trash shoot. "Might as well hit the rack since I got to get up early for shit detail" she mumbled to herself before heading back to the O-deck following Miranda.

Four weeks later
FOB(2) Whitmore

Shepard had just finished burning the last barrel of human waste and was finally free of shit detail. "Oh praise the traumatized hamster" She yelled out in a sing song voice.

"What are you so glad about? It's just shit Marine!"

Constance turned around and saw another female Marine standing there with a raised eyebrow. "That little lady was my last barrel of shit duty. I'm a free woman now and I hear a water bottle shower calling my name."

Laughing the unidentified Marine patted Shepard one her shoulder. "I'm Gunnery Sergeant Ashely Williams."

"Second Lieutenant Constance Shepard, it's nice to meet you Gunnery Sergeant."

"Please just call me Gunny Ma'am." Ashley then looked at the Second Lieutenant in shock. "They had an officer on shit detail? You must have really shit in someone's cheerios to get that punishment."

"I snapped at an Admiral for questioning the readiness of my units gear for this op."

"Yeah that will do it; well I better let you go Ma'am so you can wash the smell of shit and fuel of your body." Williams said while holding her nose and waving her hand in front of her face.

"Laugh it up Gunny, laugh it up." Constance turned and began walking to where her shallow grave(3) was at with her gear. She had just reached her gear when an air raid alarm sounded throughout the camp drawing every ones attention.

"This is not a drill; hostiles inbound all hands to your fighting positions. I say again this is not a drill hostiles inbound."

"What the fuck" Constance cursed out loud while grabbing her gear and hauling ass to her position. When she arrived she was greeted by a pack of baby wipes to the face.

"Here hurry up and clean yourself off then get your exosuit on (Crynet Nanosuit 2).

Shepard quickly thanked Miranda as she was wiping herself down before activating the containment points on her body releasing nanites that quickly covered her body and began taking the shape of her exosuit. Quickly grabbing her weapons once she was done she waited for further orders.

Shanxi Gate Way
Twenty minutes earlier

"Ma'am the gate way is activating."

Admiral Mendez looked up from what she was doing. "Who sent the signal? We weren't supposed to activate it until the colony was built and there was a second fleet in system."

"It wasn't on our side Ma'am, someone is coming through."

"All hands general quarters" Klaxons blared on each ship in the twenty fifth fleet. What came through was unlike anything that humanity had seen before. It had a lot of curves and eschew straight-edges with one cannon mounted along the spin of the ship.

"We're being hailed Admiral visual and audio!"

"Put it up let's see our neighbors." Mendez ordered standing in front of where the image would be in a few moments. What she saw once the image came to life shocked her and slightly reminded her of the invading aliens that had been captured due to their eyes. "Keep the weapons charged and fire only on my command. Am I understood?"

"Yes Ma'am, orders sent throughout the fleet and acknowledged."

"Get the translating software to translate what they are saying."

Salarian Union STG Frigate

This was Bonik Bajia's first command since he had joined the STG and he was excited by the amount of knowledge he would gain by passing through an unexplored Relay. "Activate scanners the moment we exit the relay network." He ordered.

"Yes commander."

When the frigate finally hit normal space again they found that they were facing eighty one ships of an unknown design. One of which was a massive monstrosity that resembled one of their side arms.

"Hail that massive ship and find out who they are. This system is supposed to be empty but it was also a probability that it was inhabited." Bonik ordered while trying not to gasp at the twenty five Kilometer ship.

"Hail received commander; you should be able to see them in a second."

When the image cleared what the Salarians saw shocked them. This race looked like asari but with fur on their head and had what looked like a male asari as well. The beings seemed shocked at seeing another space faring species using the relays. Little did the Salarians know but their physiology reminded them of a race of aliens that had once tried to exterminate them.

"Greetings I am Commander Bonik Bajia of the Salarian Union. Who might you be? And what is your species?"


1. O-deck: Officer Deck on military ships.
2. FOB: Forward Operations Base
3. Shallow Grave- Hastily dug fighting position or small hole used for sleeping.