"Senior officers to the bridge," Lyla released the comms button with a hiss. Her helmsman and the Tactical officer would be sleeping, but it was a necessary evil to wake them before they were scheduled to be on shift.

The Griffon had arrived ahead of schedule to the Ferelden System, a full three hours ahead and Lyla had now diverted their course to meet with another Warden Federation Ship.

The Normandy was the best scout ship the Federation had ever produced, faster than nearly any other class and invisible to most all sensors. It was the ghost of the Federation and perfect for this mission.

It was led by Captain Shepard, a woman of high stature in the Warden's ranks, known by many as the face of the Federation. A hero, and a perfect soldier, she was a brilliant addition to her ship.

Whilst they had climbed the ranks at the same time, Lyla had never known her, apart from a few glances across the room, they moved in different circles, but the elf had a great respect for Shepard; one she hoped was returned.

The turbo lift doors hissed, and Lyla smiled as she turned, her gorgeous wife had returned. She had been working with the rest of the Morale team during the day, ensuring that the crew was in its highest spirits.

A soft hand on her cheek and Lyla's head was tilted to meet Leliana's lips, a kiss she didn't realise she needed but, by the Creators was she glad for.

"I missed you," Her wife whispered, kneeling before her. "I need to get a chair up here really, do you think there would be many protests if I got a chair by yours?"

"I don't think they'd dare protest against me, vhenan," Lyla giggled. "I'm the scary Captain Tempest after all."

"Ahem," A cough interrupted them. "Did you wake me just to watch you two kiss? Because I wouldn't mind that but my darling Crystal might." Isabela laughed as she leaned forward, "Oh, don't mind me really, continue kissing."

Lyla could feel her face heat up as Leliana began chuckling. "Oh yes, the fearsome Lyla Mahariel, what would they say if they knew how easily you blushed?" She whispered in Lyla's long ear. "And, Bela, butt out!"

Isabela shot straight up, standing straighter than she ever had as Crystal bent over beside her, laughing hysterically.

"Anyway," Lyla said as she stood up. "We're meeting with the Normandy. They will be operating under us whilst in the Ferelden sector. The first reports of the attack were on the planet Ostagar, and that's exactly where we are headed, but I'm sending the Normandy to warn Lothering. If you check the star chart, you'll see that it is the closest planet to Ostagar.

"Isabela, I need you to take the helm now. I know you weren't scheduled to be on for another two hours, but this is an emergency. I can only apologise," Lyla nodded at Isabela who saluted then relieved the pilot on the opposite shift. "Ensign Cousland, I need you to prep your security team. I'm sending you down to Ostagar to investigate. I'll have more orders once we arrive."

Crystal saluted and with a wink to Isabela she was gone, darting into the turbo lift.

The chief scientist was the next to come to the bridge, Liara T'soni. She was one of the youngest Asari in the Federation, and one of the most brilliant. A beautiful blue creature, who's genius was only matched by her shyness.

"Dr T'soni," Lyla smiled as she returned the Dr's salute. "I need you to get the science team ready. We have only heard stories of what the blight has in store for us, no concrete evidence of what the enemy even looks like. I'm sending the alpha team down to Ostagar, I want your people ready to receive bodies, materials, anything that Ensign Cousland finds."

"Yes, Captain," Liara saluted again. "I'll be ready."

"Thanks, Li," Lyla smiled. The Asari had been with Lyla's crew for as long as she had been qualified, and the pair had established a good working relationship.

Liara turned and went back to her science bay, leaving Lyla to chat to Leliana whilst she waited for the next officer. "Vhenan, I need you with me whilst I talk to Shepard, but after that, please go ensure that the alpha team is raring to go. They'll need your motivation, love."

"Anything you say, Captain," Leliana smirked. Lyla slapped her shoulder playfully sparking a giggle from the morale chief.

Lieutenant Hawke was the final officer to arrive. "Captain," she laughed as she arrived.

"Oh not you too," Lyla groaned. "You're dating my sister, Marian, knock off the Captain rubbish."

"You know I can't resist teasing you, Lyla," the Security officer laughed. "It's too easy."

Lyla pointed a finger at Leliana, "Don't you dare agree!" Her wife just smirked as Lyla turned back to the security officer.

"I need you to prep beta team, and ensure the rest of your department is ready for what could be our trip into an active war zone. I'm not sure what we're going to expect, lethallan, but we need to be ready for anything," Lyla ordered. She returned the salute that Hawke gave her before falling into her seat once more.

She sat forward, legs crossed as she rested her head on an arm rested on her knee. She adjusted her eyepatch, then spoke up. "Hail the Normandy."

The viewing screen crackled as colour exploded across the dark space beyond them. Quickly, it formed the bridge of the Normandy, showing the handsome Captain Jane Shepard sitting opposite her.

"Captain Mahariel," The redheaded human smiled as she spoke. "A pleasure to finally work with you. I've heard only good things. Where do you want my ship?"

"Nice to meet you too, Shepard," Lyla said. "I'm keeping my ship onto Ostagar, we're bigger and can carry more survivors, and you're more suited to scouting, yes?"

"Aye, Captain," Shepard leant forward as she spoke.

"I want you to fly to Lothering, the small planet closest to Ostagar. There is a small population, and if you can beat the horde there, you should be easily able to evacuate them. Nice and smooth, Shepard. I'm expecting you to be back at Headquarters with the cold ones waiting for us," Lyla smirked. "Mines a strawberry cider."

Shepard laughed. "Mines a whiskey, and you're on, Mahariel. Drinks when this is over. Shepard out."

The image dissolved into the stars and Lyla kept the smirk on her face a while longer. "Bela, take us to Ostagar."

OoOoO

Three hours passed in a blur of controlled anxiety and nerves. The calm before the storm was always Lyla's least favourite bit of a mission. Once you were there, it was easy to work out what to do, but the unknown? That was the worst.

All they knew was that reports of the Archdemon had reached the Federation. Ostagar had been attacked by it, apparently, but no one remembered how the Archdemon attacked. Or what its army looked like.

Deep down, Lyla was terrified, and a little bit excited.

"Approaching Ostagar, Captain," Isabela grunted.

"On screen," Lyla replied.

So this is what the blight looked like. Creators, those poor people.

Ostagar had been a beautiful Eden, green forests made up the majority of its surface, or at least that had been the report Lyla had received.

A planet full of promise, history, and life. That was what she had been expecting but, by all the gods in the universe, that was not what she saw.

The planet's surface was blackened and grey. Where there should have been gorgeous forests, there was just rock. The oceans had dried up, and in their place was just more rock. A dead, desert, mountain. That was all that was left.

"Mythal'enaste."