Welcome back loyal fans
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That's awesome!
So lets start moving along
The Citadel battle awaits!
Optimus, Bumblebee, and Hound are on the job along with Shepard, Liara, and Wrex
So without further ado
Autobots! N7! Roll out!
The conversation was swift and the goodbye was swifter. Shepard knew she had to stop the Reapers, no matter the cost. The moment they got outside, their ears were filled with the sound of engines revving as Optimus and his Autobots arrived.
Transforming as he preformed a power slide, twirling in his robot mode before facing the Commander, he bent down to face her.
"Commander."
"Hi Optimus," she greeted as she climbed into the Mako. "We got new info, the Reapers are coming. The Citadel, the heart of the galactic power is actually a portal for them to come through."
"They will simultaneously kill millions and slaughter your leaders," he growled in anger and she nodded before jumping in.
"We need your help, the Conduit's just ahead, it'll take us to the Citadel!"
"Then let us make haste," he rumbled before turning to his brothers. "Autobots! Transform and roll out!"
In seconds they were a convoy moving forward with great speed and power. Any Geth in their path were either mowed down by a variety of weaponized projectiles or crushed under their tires. Soon they made it to a steep ramp down towards what appeared to be a miniature Mass Relay.
"There it is!" Shepard shouted and all eyes and optics were on it.
"That's one big light bulb," Hound spoke as he eyed it and the walking Geth Colossi around it. "Hang on, that's some heavy weaponry."
"Don't got time for that!" Bumblebee shouted as the green bot aimed his rocket launcher.
"You're right," he spoke as his holographic projector activated.
The synthetic tanks aimed at a massive hologram of Metroplex as it reared its red eyes down on them.
"What the-"
"No time for questions, drive!" Optimus roared, disregarding their concern over his for the innocent lives on the Citadel as he sped forward.
Everyone followed and in seconds they had passed through, disappearing through the Conduit.
"Stop them!" a Turian crewmate shouted as they fired all their ship's weaponry at the oncoming Geth ships.
A large force of dreadnoughts accompanied by a massive ship colored a dark grey with a multitude of tentacle like legs lurched forward, an invasion force which size had not been seen for hundreds of years. Glowing golden eyes burned into its hull stared at the Citadel Defense Fleet, neither faltering or changing course. A Turian frigate rammed into it, but was reduced to floating pieces of melting scrap metal as the ship continued on its course, not damaged in a the slightest.
The Council watched in horror, eyes wide and mouths dropped as the massive ship entered the closing Citadel.
"Activate the defenses! Seal the station!" the captain of the Destiny Ascension ordered, but her orders were in vain.
"The arms aren't moving, systems not responding," a crewmember reported quickly.
"Abandon the Citadel! Evacuate the Council!"
"Citadel Control! Citadel Control! Do you copy?"
The bodies of Citadel Command were piled either piled on top of each other or were left in the chairs they were shot in. In the light flowing from the door, the silhouette of Saren disappeared into it.
Meanwhile, as chaos overtook the station as Geth forces decimated the guard force and slaughtered every organic being in their path, a being watched. It laid in its metal scaffolding, watching the chaos. Disgust filled its processor as it watched the organics flee.
Such weak fleshlings, fragile and insufferable, but then there were those synthetics, pathetic excuses of autonomous robotic organisms. It watched with glee only for the razing of the space station, its prison, but also its repair bay.
Two Geth Colossi were on patrol across a walkway when a cry was heard. They turned, looking to see an Asari hiding with her child.
"No! Please!" she cried out in despair, holding her sobbing child.
Suddenly, before either could open fire, the statue within the lake lit up a glowing, soft blue. They turned to investigate and in turn received a face full of Cybertanium colored crimson red. Optimus transformed and roared with exhilaration as he swung his Energon Axe, slicing the head off of a third Colossi attracted by the activation of the Conduit's exit point.
The Mako appeared and crushed a small group of Geth also investigating while Hound and Bumblebee came afterwards. Unfortunately for Shepard, the tank had crashed into the wall and been rendered incapacitated.
"Damn," Shepard cursed as she got out, rubbing the back of her head in pain while climbing out, "could've used this."
"Would've been nice," Wrex grumbled as he climbed out afterwards.
"Would have been most useful," Liara added as she followed.
"Behind you!" the Asari cried out, clutching her child as she pointed at the Autobots.
"What? Oh, them, they're... um, they're on our side," Jane responded and she stared at her in confusion.
"We mean no harm," Optimus spoke and stared down at the young sparkling in the alien's arms. "Your sparkling is frightened I would advise you find somewhere safe to hide."
"There's nowhere safe," she sobbed and looked around, "the Citadel is destroyed!"
"There is always hope, no matter what," the Prime solemnly stated with certainty that uplifted even the blue female's spirit. "Autobots! We must stop Saren and protect the Citadel! Spread out and search for him!"
"No need," Liara spoke as she pointed at a tower in the distance, "the terminal to activate the Citadel is within the Council Tower. That's where we need to go."
"Then let us depart!" Optimus spoke as he began to move, but a massive bolt of plasma passed him and obliterated a wall close by.
"We're under fire!" Hound shouted and fired his own rocket launcher, blasting the Geth Colossi into pieces.
"Defend the organics!" the Prime roared and fired his Pathblaster as Bumblebee moved to become a shield for the Asari and her child.
Shepard pulled out her pistol and began firing radioactive rounds into the synthetic forces while a multitude of Energon shots colored bright orange and yellow shredded them to pieces. The exchange of firepower was a quick one as the advanced weaponry of the Cybertronian made short work of the aggressing Geth, decimating them in moments.
"We will clear a path, you find a safe shelter for the Asari and her sparkling," Optimus ordered and began sprinting with his Autobots down the walkway towards the elevator which would take Shepard to Saren.
Beyond the Mass Relay within the Serpent Nebula, there was the entirety of the Arcturus Fleet waited. The Normandy had arrived at Arcturus Station with news of the impending attack on the Citadel and already they had mobilized, but found the route to the Citadel was cut off.
"Any communication with the Commander yet?" Admiral Hackett asked as he stood on the bridge of his ship, awaiting an answer from the pilot of the Normandy.
"No sir, but I faith in her," Joker responded as they floated near the Mass Relay.
Not to far from the Citadel itself, a small force of strange ships floated about, slowly flying towards the station. Each different from the other, but all having glowing red markings.
"We're going out!" Shepard shouted as she clasped on her helmet, feeling anxiety and exhilaration at what she was about to do.
Her companions did the same as she shot out the lift's windows and jumped out, magnetically holding onto the exhaust plains of the Citadel. They had been forced to leave the Autobots behind to find another way out towards the Council Chambers for they were to large to fit within the lift themselves.
The trek was long and full of dangerous foes consisting of a multitude and variety of Geth soldiers and Cloned Krogan warriors. Meanwhile, within the Citadel, Optimus and his men charged forward with vigor.
"Come on!" Hound roared as he fired his Neutron Assault Rifle, mowing down any synthetic in his path as he charged.
"Bumblebee! Take them out!" Optimus ordered as he gestured at several Geth Colossi.
He nodded and aimed a Nucleon Charge Rifle, the targeting lasers on it giving off a faint hum as they came together into a single line that pierced a Colossus' one eye. Several shots came off and each head was blown into smithereens. The yellow bot cheered until a Geth gunship blasted through the roof of the area they were in.
"Find cover!" Hound yelled as the Citadel began an emergency lockdown to prevent the air from escaping.
Unfortunately, the gunship fired off a barrage of heavy fire that obliterated a tiny section of the station, utilizing the flammable and explosive objects nearby. The hole was small, but large enough to eject the Autobots into space.
Bumblebee gave a cry of surprise as he and Hound were tossed down into the docks, blown out into space as the shielding was damaged and air began to be sucked out.
"Hang on!" the green bot cried out as he grabbed the scout and shot a grappling hook at a incoming Geth fighter.
"Hound! Bumblebee!" Optimus roared as he fired a Glass Gas Cannon, obliterating the Geth Gunship.
"We're fine Optimus, hitched a ride on one of those synthetics' ships."
He vented in relief before contacting them once more.
"If you can control that ship, help the organics defend the Citadel."
"Understood Prime, come on Bee, time to make some trouble!"
The line cut and Optimus began making his way towards the Council Tower, now in sight.
Meanwhile, Shepard had made her way back into the station. Finally arriving at the Council Tower. She fired off a couple rounds, taking out a small portion of the Geth forces. Wrex released a Carnage and demolished a larger portion while Liara fired her own biotic attack and sent the rest off the edge of the platform.
Suddenly, a Gunship flew overhead and released a Geth Colossus.
"Incoming!" Wrex roared as they jumped behind cover.
Both the gunship and the Colossus fired at the three heroes. Desperately, Shepard tossed a grenade and managed to knock the walking tank off balance, making I stumble. Wrex unleashed another Carnage and blew off a chunk of its chassis and Liara blasted it with a biotic attack.
Before anything else could happen, however, the Gunship exploded from behind, the back section imploding. They stared in confusion until a red and blue Cybertronian truck blasted out of the front onto the Colossus, transforming in the process. Optimus stomped on the Geth like it was a bug, crushing its chassis underfoot.
He roared and fired his Pathblaster, blasting apart whatever remained of the crashed gunship to permanently disable it.
"Optimus?" Shepard called and he turned to look at her, disabling his mouthshield to reveal his full face.
"Shepard, it is good to see you."
"Where are the others?"
"Ejected into space by the Geth, but they have joined in the space battle against the synthetics' invasion force."
"That sounds good," she replied and her gaze moved to the Council Tower. "This is it, Saren's inside."
"Then let us make haste," the Prime responded and transformed before ramming straight through the doors.
It was complete chaos after that, energy pulses flew around and struck the Cybertronian's overshields, but they barely did damage to it. Optimus preformed a power slide turning himself into cover for Shepard and her team. They took the advantage and fired over the Cybertanium cover, decimating the synthetics.
"Saren!" Shepard shouted as she ran up the stairs towards where she once stood before the Council.
The Turian's silhouette was briefly visible before it disappeared, having jumped over the ledge. The human female stopped, eyes wide, but then it clicked in her head.
"Look out!" she shouted just before Saren appeared on his hover platform.
He sent a grenade flying from his hand, the trio of aliens barely finding cover before it exploded. He sent several more explosives out, all of them heading for the filthy human that had nearly thwarted him. The beeping noises of the approaching ordnance were caught in Shepard's ears and she knew this was it.
She was mistaken, however, as a shadow was cast over her. Optimus stepped in and became a massive shield for her. The explosives did take more off from his shields than the Geth pulse rifles, but he was still standing.
"Ah, the synthetic guardian of yours," Saren remarked as he marveled at Optimus' sudden appearance.
"I assume you are the one known as Saren?" Optimus inquired and he nodded as Shepard peered out from behind the mechanical warrior.
"It's over Saren! Give up!" she shouted at him and he scowled at her.
"Over? No, it's just begun, Shepard! This is the dawn of a new age!"
"You're insane!" she yelled in fury, simply making him laugh.
Then, all the sudden, he bent over in pain, clutching his head.
"Sovereign! No! What are you-"
He didn't finish as he was violently lifted up into the air, hovering above his hover platform as arcs of crimson lightning shot from the walls at him, covering him in a cocoon of the same energy. Then, he just fell back down, landing on his feet. His head was bent down, staring at the platform he stood on.
"You," he growled, his voice a rasp and mechanical as a finger pointed at the red and blue bot, "Prime."
"You know of who I am?" Optimus questioned as the Turian reared his head.
His eyes glowed a crimson red, burning with power and dominance.
"Saren?" Shepard asked and the red suns that were his eyes gazed upon her.
"I am Sovereign," it stated and looked back at the Prime, "and you are Cybertronian, the apex of synthetic life."
"You know of my people's existence?"
"We allowed you to live. You could not create organics, therefore you could not create chaos."
"You were greatly misinformed," Optimus stated, activating his Energon axe and slamming the hilt down onto the ground. "My people have waged war against ourselves for 50 million of the Human's Earth years."
"And now you have spread your chaos to the rest of the galaxy," it snarled and pointed a pistol at the Prime. "Already I hear news of your brethren ejecting out of your portals, contaminating worlds with discord. Beings falling like stars down onto inhabited worlds, one Cybertronian against the other, leveling civilizations."
The Autobot felt pain at the revelation, knowing full well its words were correct. Shepard, however, did not feel the same way.
"Shut it, Sovereign! Saren! I know you're in there! Fight it!"
"Your pleas for the Turian fall on deaf ears, Human," he spoke, but a hand reached his head as if he was feeling pain within his mind.
"Come on, Saren! You were a Spectre! Your duty was to protect people, not kill them!"
"As I have said once before, Saren is not... he is not- Argh!"
He bent forward, growling in pain before rearing his head up in desperation.
"Shepard, you were right- Ah! He- I let him implant me, let him use me- Ah!"
He cried out repeatedly as the cybernetic implants shocked his nerves and sent pain searing through his body.
"Fight it Saren! You're still one of us, no matter what!" Shepard spoke and stood up boldly, leaving herself open to attack. "You're organic like me and that thing is just metal!"
"I, I'm sorry, Shepard. It's to late for me," he apologized as he placed the barrel of his pistol underneath his chin.
A loud bang resounded throughout the Council Chambers as Saren fired. Optimus reached a hand out, a vain attempt to stop the Turian. Shepard's eyes went wide as did Liara's and Wrex's. Glass shattered as the Turian broke through the glass pane ceiling of the small room below, impaling himself on a glass shard after landing on a large stone.
"Is he-" Liara didn't finish as the Prime answered her question.
"Yes," Optimus rumbled, scanning the body, "Saren is gone."
Quickly acting, Shepard opened up her Omni-Tool, inputting the data Virgil gifted her.
"It's working," she said as the Citadel controls were handed over to her.
"Open up some channels, maybe we can call your human friends," Wrex suggested and she obliged.
However, they received a different message.
"...Destiny Ascension. Main drives offline. Kinetic barriers down 40%. The Council is on board, I repeat, the Council is on board."
"Normandy to the Citadel, Normandy to the Citadel. Please tell me that's you, Commander?" Joker's voice spoke up and Jane smiled.
"Joker, it's me. I made it."
"Thank God, Shepard. We caught that distress call, Commander. I'm sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet. If you open the relay we could save the Destiny Ascension."
"You'd sacrifice human lives to save the Council? What have they ever done for your kind?"
"This is bigger than Humanity, than the Council! Sovereign's a threat to every organic species in the galaxy!"
"That's why you can't throw away reinforcements trying to save the Council. HOld them back until the Citadel arms open up and the human fleet can go after Sovereign!"
Shepard stared at the two, knowing what repercussions would come from her decision. Either the galaxy would blame her for the death of the Council or Humanity would blame her for the death of entire Alliance crews.
"Optimus? What's your input?" Shepard asked, emerald eyes locking onto blue optics.
"I do not know my friend, but I do know that the lives of the many outweigh the lives of the few. Without the Council your people would be leaderless and thus cause harm to themselves. We must defend them, no matter the cost."
She nodded and gave her order.
The Destiny Ascension desperately headed for the Mass Relay, but were dismayed to find it inactive. They turned to flee from the Geth dreadnaughts, but were cut off. A sea of dark grey metal hulls surrounded them, blasting energy pulses at the might of the Asari fleet.
"We're doomed," people murmured and cried out in anguish.
That was until the relay reactivated, the rings at the core of the two prongs beginning to rotate as the soft blue energy flared.
"Alliance ships, move in. Save the Destiny Ascension!" Hackett ordered as the Fifth Fleet rushed to the aid of the Council.
"Commander, we're picking up reinforcements!" a navigator spoke up and the commander walked up.
"It's the Alliance, thank the goddess!" she cried out in joy.
With the Normandy at the lead, the Alliance shot up, then dived down onto the Geth forces, taking them by surprise. Bolts of red and blue flying through space and at other ships.
"Incoming!" an Alliance vessel cried out before being obliterated by a barrage of energy pulses.
"Look out!" another shouted, but they were not to be destroyed as a Geth fighter suddenly came into view and blasted apart the other fighters headed for them.
"Oh yeah!" Hound roared with laughter as he pulled some more wires.
"What the?" many humans gasped as they watched a large camo green robot riding a Geth fighter.
"Our kinetic barriers are down! Dreadnought coming in for a ramming attack!" an Asari stated with worry as she mapped out the damaged Geth ship's course.
Joker could only watch as the near destroyed ship began to collide with the Asari one, but was amazed when streaks of red flew past him, faster than any other ship he'd seen.
"Woohoo!" a voice laughed as a white ship, about the size of an Alliance fighter flew over and transformed. "Aerialbots! Take 'em out!"
"I thought I was leader?" Silverbolt questioned as they pulled out Thermo Rocket Launchers, firing a barrage of Energon explosives at the Geth Dreadnought.
It was shredded to pieces as the new Autobot reinforcements flew past, most simply fliers while others were more known heroes such as Air Raid, Silverbolt, or Jetfire.
"Ha ha! Jetfire!" Hound cried out in relief as the Autobot flew over next to him. "Think I can get a ride?"
"I dunno, might weigh me down," the Cybertronian joked and Hound grit his teeth in anger.
"You calling me fat? Come here!"
He jumped onto the Aerialbot as Bumblebee boarded the Normandy, climbing onto and hanging onto its wing.
"This is one hell of a cavalry," Joker laughed as they shot towards the opening Citadel.
"You damn right!" Bumblebee responded, speaking over a public channel.
The multiple races of the Citadel could only watch in awe as newer, more advanced alien ships flew by and decimated the Geth along with the Alliance, lessening Human deaths. Their minds were boggled as they witnessed some transform and fire rockets or bullets made of energy at the synthetic race.
"All ships move in, concentrate on Sovereign!" Hackett ordered and everyone heeded the command, even the Autobots.
"Sovereign?" Air Raid asked as he flew next to the Normandy.
"Big squid thing," Bumblebee responded, tuning into some media channel.
"On it!" Jetfire shouted and fired several rockets that took off a good percentage of the Reaper's shields.
"Make sure he's dead," Shepard spoke, staring down at the body of the ex-Spectre.
She felt wrong asking for them to defile his body, but it needed to be done. With something as powerful as an ancient machine the Geths praised as a god, then she had to be careful. Optimus stood on the more stable platform, watching from a distance as Liara and Wrex approached the Turian's corpse.
Firing a single shot from his shotgun, Wrex grinned as he heard the satisfying sound of the shot going through Saren's skull.
"He's dead," he chuckled before turning to walk back up to Shepard.
Suddenly, more arcs of crimson lightning jumped across the walls. The Krogan and the Asari gaped as the lightning jumped onto Saren's prone form, making it violently twitch and shake. A strong shockwave blasted off from the body and caused the bridge Shepard stood on to collapse.
She fell, but rolled the impact off, landing in a kneeling position. She looked up at the floating form of Saren, his eyes glowing a bright red as his skin began to melt and incinerate.
Outside in the coldness of space, Alliance ships desperately fired at the 'Geth' ship that hovered atop the Council Tower. A tentacle arm moved and at the tip a sphere of crackling crimson energy formed. It aimed at an Alliance Dreadnought before the sound of something heating was clear in everyone's ears. A red laser faded into existence before flashing and a blast of crimson obliterated the Human ship.
"Autobots! Stay clear of those lasers!" Silverbolt ordered as he and the Aerialbots came down in a diving V formation, firing off a haze of bullets at it.
The Energon ammunition shredded a section of its armor, but the Reaper was massive and seemed to be made of armor.
"That thing's taking a lot of hits!" Air Raid shouted after firing a small barrage of missiles, blasting a tentacle off.
"But it isn't invincible! Keep up the attack!" Jetfire remarked and they went around for another run.
Sovereign fired another laser, missing the swift Cybertronians, but obliterating another Alliance ship. Hackett grit his teeth as he watched, he didn't know what to make of the situation besides calling it chaotic. The new transforming robots were helping, but he couldn't tell if they were genuinely generous at defending them or if this was all a setup.
Returning to the Council Chambers, Jane watched as another shockwave blasted off the now mechanical Turian skeleton. An expanding and contracting sphere of glowing crimson energy crackled within his ribcage, his eyes similar to the glowing heart.
"Saren?" she gasped, but it only stared at her before speeding off, jumping across a wall with lightning fast reflexes. He bounced around, until he was gone from her sight.
"What the hell was that?" Wrex growled as he aimed his shotgun, searching for the walking dead.
"I have no idea," Liara responded as she to pointed a pistol around.
"Keep your eyes open," Shepard stated and they searched, three pairs of eyes looking for Saren.
"Shepard! Behind you!" Optimus yelled as he saw a grey figure jumping down towards her.
She turned in time to fire her shotgun, catching it in the chest. The force of the shot changed its trajectory and it landed in front of her. She fired again and blasted a limb off, but it quickly jumped forward, right onto her. She struggled as a metal hand gripped her throat, trying to choke her out.
Wrex gave a war cry and charged, ramming the Reaper controlled puppet into a wall. However, it grabbed the Krogan and threw him off with some sort of super strength, giving a shrill screech as it did. Liara threw a biotic attack, sending it back into the wall, but it quickly recovered and headed for Shepard.
She aimed her shotgun, the shot pinned directly at its skull. She pulled the trigger, but it ducked and swung its clawed hand up. Jane gasped in pain as it pierced her side, the metal limb impaling her through her right abdomen. Blood leaked out and dripped onto the grass below her as it pulled her up.
Suddenly, a large metal foot came out of nowhere and stomped on the ground next to the two. The undead Saren turned to stare at it before looking up at the other leg above him. The blue colored Cybertanium foot crushed it into the ground.
Shepard fell back to the ground, holding he bleeding side and coughing up her life fluids. Optimus raised his foot again to see if it had survived. Energy crackled and metal limbs twitched underneath his foot so he stomped down again, repeating the process just as Metroplex had done to Megatron in Autobot City.
Finally, he pulled out his Glass Gas Cannon and fired, but it rolled. What remained of its broken form jumped at the Prime, headed for his torso unit as to tear out its spark. However, before it could, more tendrils of energy shot from the wall. Except this time, they were purple.
The arcs of purple colored energy struck the metallic skeleton and it shrieked in pain as it was incinerated into ash. Optimus stared in confusion, feeling the Matrix of Leadership within him stir, knowing that whatever had happened was not accidental nor did it come from good will.
Shaking off his thoughts, the Prime's gaze went to the human female clutching her bleeding side.
"Commander, are you alright?" Optimus asked and Shepard shook her head, her vision getting blurry.
"No, losing... to much blood- huh," she gasped as more pain seared through her body.
"You need medi-gel," Liara stated as she used some on her superior, healing her.
Relief flooded the human's body, but she looked out the window of the Council Tower as a shadow cast itself over the chamber. A massive chunk of the Reaper was flying towards them.
Unbeknownst to the group of four, Sovereign's shields had completely vanished and it had been stunned to the point that it could not regenerate its shields.
"It's shields are down! Now's are chance!"
"Hit it with everything we've got," the admiral ordered and the entire Arcturus Fleet opened fire as Joker straight up.
"Hard on my flank! We're going in!" Joker ordered as he flew up.
The Autobots followed hind, all of them going with Alliance Fighters and several larger vessels. They dived, a swarm of humans and Cybertronians, firing a haze of bullets, missiles, and Energon down at the Reaper below. It had detached and lurched forward to float within the Citadel arms, but it jerked forward as the many projectiles pierced its body, penetrating its systems, and obliterating it inner workings.
It jerked several times before letting loose an explosion of fire and smoke, followed by a shockwave of crimson energy that dissipated in moments. Pieces of it floated around, crashing into the Citadel, one heading for Shepard, Optimus, and their companions.
"Look out!" Jane shouted and they moved, but with her still injured side she winced and fell over in pain.
"Shepard!" everyone cried out, but Optimus was the only to act, running towards her just as the Reaper part made contact with the Council Tower.
David Anderson looked at the carnage, the fires and the debris. The dark steel looking metal limb lay upon the Council Chamber as debris littered around it or atop it. His eyes were drawn to a group of Alliance men, pulling a large piece of metal off of a hole created by the destruction.
Within was a Krogan and an Asari, two of the many aliens that followed Shepard to Ilos. They helped them up, giving them medi-gel and whatever they needed. Anderson looked both of them straight in the eye, his own relaying the question without need of his vocal cords.
They shook their heads, Liara on the verge of tears while Wrex looked away, not wanting to cry, but still wanting to honor the courageous human. Anderson clenched his hands before helping the two back towards a medical team. He turned, thinking he heard a noise.
He thought he heard running, but it was all silent. He grit his teeth, blinking away several tears before following the survivors. That was until the Reaper limb moved. They all turned at the noise of groaning metal and crashing debris. A red arm had moved the Reaper's remains off of it as an enormous mechanical being that nearly touched the roof with its head stood up.
The Alliance troops pointed their weapons at it, about to fire until the captain had ordered them to lower their arms. He had spotted fiery orange hair in the bot's other hand, metal fingers curled around a kneeling body. Shepard stood up, still clutching her side until she let go, moving both arms to her sides as she smiled with joy and relief.
She stared down at everyone who gaped in awe at her standing there in the Prime's hand. She looked back, a bit up at the Autobot's face. His mouthpiece slid back to reveal his mouth, his blue optics shining with joy at surviving.
"Captain Anderson, meet Optimus Prime," Commander Jane Shepard, Savior of the Citadel spoke with a smile.
"And you are called?" Tevus asked as she stared at the leader of the Autobots.
"We are Cybertronians, autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron, a world far from these known spaces," Optimus explained and Shepard nodded, standing next to the big bot.
"And you came to our galaxy after escaping your war torn home world?" Sparatus questioned and he nodded, a somber nod.
"For millions of years we have waged war against each other, brother against brother, Autobot against Decepticon," he narrated with his solemn, baritone voice. "Now, I fear that we have brought our war to your worlds. I have yet to discover any Decepticons, but when I do, I vow to defeat them before harm comes to your people."
"You are a generous and courageous leader, Optimus Prime," Valern stated with a waving of his arm, "but you must understand, our people are weary of synthetics and with this sudden invasion of the Geth, I fear they may not accept you or your own people."
"Such a variable was thought of," he stated and gestured at his Autobots who stood in a line. The Aerialbots, Hound, and Bumblebee all nodding at the Prime and the Council. "In order to defend this galaxy, we shall adopt alternate forms, hiding in plain sight, robots in disguise."
The Council murmured amongst themselves, speaking of his words before nodding to each other.
"We shall sanction this and with your permission, we request to have our Spectre force work alongside you."
"Wait, that means I get to go along for the ride, right?" Shepard asked and the Council nodded at her question. She grinned and looked up at the big bot that towered over her, blue optics staring at her with a smile on his metal mouth. "Alright big guy, looks like we're a team."
"Indeed we are Commander, I accept your terms and with great honor I shall continue to defend all that we stand for."
"Very well, now onto a more pressing topic. Commander Shepard, step forward," Tevus ordered and the female human obliged.
Udina and Anderson also followed, standing at the Human Spectre's sides.
"Ambassador, Captain, Commander Shepard," the Asari acknowledged before continuing, "we have gathered here to recognize the enormous contribution of the Alliance in the war against Sovereign and the Geth."
"Many humans lost their lives in the battle to save the Citadel. Brave and courageous soldiers who willingly gave their lives so we, the Council might live," Valern solemnly spoke.
"There is no greater sacrifice and we share your grief over the tragic loss of so many noble men and women," Sparatus stated with pride for humanity.
"The Council also owes a great personal debt, Commander. One we can never repay," the Asari Councilor added and Shepard smiled at that. "You saved not just our lives, but the lives of billions from Sovereign and the Reapers."
"Commander Shepard, your heroic and selfless actions serve as a symbol of everything humanity and the Alliance stand for," the Salarian Councilor remarked and Shepard's cheeks turned red at the praise.
"And though we cannot bring back those valiant soldiers who gave their lives to save ours, we can honor their memories through our actions," the Turian Councilor said and Tevus continued or him.
"Humanity has shown it is ready to stand as a defender and protector of the galaxy. You have proved you are worthy to join our ranks and serve beside us on the Citadel Council," she proudly remarked and Udina stepped forward.
"Councilor, on behalf of humanity and the Alliance, we thank you for this prestigious honor and humbly accept," he stated and Shepard felt a bit of disgust as he spoke for them all. The man was a filthy, dirty weasel, but he did know how to move through politics.
"We will need a list of potential candidates to fill humanity's seat on the Council, the same shall go for the Cybertronians, of course they will operate on the Council secretly," Valern explained and Optimus nodded along with Udina.
"Given all that has happened, I am sure your recommendation will carry a great deal of weight, Commander. Do you support any particular candidate?" Tevus questioned and Shepard thoroughly thought through the question.
Optimus looked down at the young female human as she stood there in thought.
Udina was a powerful political leader and would serve humanity well, but he'd only do what would be best for humans and no one else, but then there was her father figure, Anderson. A strong leader who knew right from wrong.
"We need someone with the courage to stand up for what he believes in. Someone like Captain Anderson," Jane proudly stated and both men on her left and right were taken back.
"You trying to make blush, Shepard?" the Africa American asked with a smile.
"Are you sure about this, Commander? The captain is a soldier, not a politician," Udina stated, not on with the idea of Anderson taking the seat as the human councilor.
"We already got too many politicians on the Citadel. The captain would be perfect for this job," Shepard stated and Anderson stepped up to the Council.
All eyes and optics were on him as the Council began their evaluation.
"I think it's an inspired choice. The Council would welcome him with open arms, should he accept," Tevus admitted and the humans beamed with pride, save for the ambassador.
"I'm honored, Councilor. As humanity's representative, I'll do everything in my power to help the Council rebuild," the captain, now turned councilor spoke and all eyes turned on Optimus Prime.
"And what of you, Optimus Prime? Who would you have to represent your people here?"
"With all do respect councilors, my people have no political leaders, but I. However, I will not leave my brothers on the battlefield. Never shall I abandon them nor shall I forget the trials we have gone through to find a new home to inhabit," he humbly stated and the Council smiled at his words.
"Then we shall call upon you when needed," Sparatus suggested and the Prime nodded at the arrangement. "Sovereign's defeat marks the beginning of a new era for both humanity, the Autobots, and the Council."
Jane looked around, staring at the ruined chamber they stood in before looking back at the Council, shaking her head.
"No, Sovereign was only a vanguard. The Reaper fleet is still coming. Hundreds of ships, maybe thousands. And I'm going to find some way to stop them!" she claimed and turned to leave.
Optimus followed and the Autobots did the same, all of the heroes moving to return to Freedom's Progress to return to the Ark and to their brothers. As they left, Anderson stepped forward and began a speech, one which inspired the Council to no end.
"Shepard's right. Humanity is ready to do its part. United with the rest of the Council, we have the strength to overcome any challenge," he reassured, every word filled with confidence. "When the Reapers come, we must stand side by side. We must fight against them as one. And together, with the Autobots backing us up, we will drive them back into the dark space!"
Deep within the Citadel, the excavation teams eventually cleared the rubble to the entrance of the laboratory.
"Check it," the leader ordered and a member of the group unlocked the door.
It slid open to reveal the metal corpse still standing in its scaffolding, body not even damaged in the slightest from the battle above.
"Good, report it to the Council. NBE-1 is still in repairable state," he ordered and another member went off to compose the message.
As they began to clear rubble and get back to work, they did not notice blood red optics staring at them until it was to late. They shut off and the being retreated back into its broken form, hiding within its mind. He had dreaded saving his nemesis, the last Prime. Those purple tendrils of lightning made of Dark Energon that had lingered within his body. His reasons for helping the fleshlings and the Autobot were so they could defeat the Reaper and so the other organics could return to repair him.
"Weak fleshlings," he snarled as they began to bring in pieces of the Reaper's hull, preparing to repair his chassis, "once my new form is repaired, I shall kill you all!"
It ranted on within its subconscious as they took it apart and put it back together, careful to not break anything. They had yet to reach his spark core, the heart of the Cybertronian protected by an extra layering of armor. After sometime, trade with the Autobots was established and resources to create Energon began to flow towards the Council's Cybertronians allies. At the same time, they began to experiment in ways to create their own Energon, feeding it to the stasis locked Cybertronian in captivity.
"Soon, very soon my Decepticons. The universe shall shudder and tremble as they hear the masses chant my name. All shall bend their knees to I, Megatron!"
Done
So that's the end of Mass Effect 1
I'll probably make some filler chapters before moving in on Mass Effect 2
So I've got a skeleton for the upcoming events worked out and I hope you all like it
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Lord Revan Flame, signing off