The uniform of Strategic Homeland Defense, hence the Ghosts/Templar Assassins is the same as the one worn by Tom Cruise in the movie Oblivion.

In this story protheans do not have the ability to see the memories of others, instead they can get a feel of what has happened in a room. Like an animal can smell or feel when potential prey or a predator is near.

Omega Protocol: Shadow Recruits
Chapter 7: Clear and Present Danger

Ariadne System
Ariadne, the Blue Pearl of the Frontier, a garden of eden at the center of the star cluster. As varied in natural environments as any other Earth like planet - the Ariadne flora and fauna at night exhibit bioluminescent qualities in various shades of blue, purple and green. While massive deposits of superconductive minerals enables landmasses to float in the air.

The cities are far and few, spread across the planet's landmasses. Capital cities are white, sleek and futuristic. Smaller cities, like on Paleron, are usually build with a mediterranean vibe inspired by Italian and Greek architecture.

Situated in Koinos Thessaloniki on the Artemis River lies the Capital of the United Systems - Dianapolis. Also known as the White City. In a geostationary orbit above the city is a massive dark space station in the form of a tetrahedron. Shrouded in myth, this station is simply known as - Olympus Prime.

Samantha walked into the lobby of Olympus Prime, however those working within it simply call it Olympus. She was dressed in the dull white combat uniform of the SHD. Form fitting fatigues with knee padding, together with a padded jacket, all made out of material able to shrug off a point-blank nine millimeter round. The orange triangle of the SHD was printed on each shoulder pad. A grey variant of the uniform without the armored padding is worn by non-combat oriented personnel.

As Sam reached the elevators she punched a few keys in, and took the ride to the bottom of the station. Where the office of the director of Ghost Recon resides. The waiting room was spacious and like most of the station interior, all sleek curves and shiny white surfaces. A secretary was sitting at a curved desk, tapping on her computer. A familiar figure was sitting at one of the low tables opposite the secretary.

"Natasha Peel!" Sam called out, approaching the table as the redhead got up.

"Fisher," Natasha nodded, she wasn't as tall as Sam, but her eyes had a fire in them that easily matched that of the taller brunette.

"So..." Sam said, drawing out the word. "Waiting for someone?"

"Hunt, he's in there getting debriefed on picking up Hanna. Earth ain't exactly the easiest of places to infiltrate," Nat informed, looking at the office door. She pulled her red curly hair into a ponytail and sat down on the leather sofa. Samantha remained standing.

"You know Major, did you ever hear the saying that if a man admits that he is wrong, he is immediately forgiven for all his wrongdoings?" Sam turned towards the elevators as Shinichi and Ethan entered the room. They too were dressed in SHD uniforms.

"What? Get the fuck out of my face with that shit!" Shinichi gave Ethan an annoyed look. "The motherfucker who said that never had to spend a night picking up itty-bitty pieces of alien skull on account of your dumb ass!"

"Chill out, man. It worked out in the end didn't it?"

"Yeah! Cause fucking G-Man bailed us out." Shinichi let out a sigh as he approached Sam and Nat.

Natasha gave the two an amused smile. "Major, Commander."

"Peel," The two men nodded as the Major turned towards Sam. "Any idea why we're here? Well except for the upcoming ass chewing."

"Most likely a new mission, since the one we finished kind of got interrupted by the whole alien invasion thing." Just as Samantha finished her sentence the office door opened and a blonde man around the same height and size as Ethan walked out.

"Nat, let's go get the team," The blonde signaled the redhead. He greeted Sam with a nod, but stopped in front of Ethan who in turn looked him in the eye. "That was a great job you did there. Shooting the hostage."

"First of all, Steve. He was a prisoner of war, not a hostage."

"You really don't feel bad at all?" Steve said folding his arms. Shinichi exchanged a quick look with Sam and Nat. Thinking of defusing the situation.

Ethan returned the stare and leaned against the secretary's desk, a grin on his face. "You know, i've been wondering. Have you ever had a day of fun in your life, Hunt?"

"I don't take pleasure in killing, unlike some." Hunt gave a quick glance in the direction of the three other agents in the room. Samantha looked unfazed by the remark and Natasha shook her head slightly trying to make him back down. Shinichi was rubbing his face with the palm of his hand.

"Well, you should try it someday. Might get a taste for it." Ethan gave Steve a lopsided grin as he leaned back. Both hands on the counter. The secretary seemed unfazed by the ongoing argument and kept her attention on work.

Natasha was the one to break up the tension, placing a hand on Hunt's arm. "Come on let's go. This is not worth it."

Steve seemed to ease up and took a step back, before heading towards the elevators with agent Peel. Ethan straightened himself up and waved at them as they entered the lift, earning a smack on the head from his sister.

"Why the fuck do you have to be like that?"

"What?"

"Oh, don't play coy with me. You know exactly what I mean!" Samantha let out a frustrated humph and walked towards the office door. "He might have biggest team in Omega, but you're still the biggest asshole."

"She's right, we can't afford antagonism among our top operatives," Shinichi said, hitting Ethan on the shoulder. "I know you like being a pain in the ass, but next time...try being it towards our actual enemies."

"I just can't help it. He's just...so nice. It rubs me the wrong way."

Shinichi sighed, "Come on, let's see what the Chief wants."

The entire floor of the Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Homeland Defense was located at the bottom of the space station. The walls and floor was transparent, enabling for a beautiful view of Ariadne. The current incumbent was a black man by the name of Zeus Hondo a veteran of the Titan Wars, current Grand Master of the Ghosts and the gold standard of ass kicking.

"NOT ONLY DID YOU MANAGE TO KILL OUR ALIEN POW! YOU PULLED GILES OUT OF A MISSION TO CLEAN UP YOUR MESS! YOU EXPECT HIM TO BABYSIT EVERY TIME YOU SCREW UP?" Hondo bellowed at the three operatives who stood in front of his desk. Samantha had a fist in front of her mouth, trying not to laugh as the Director raged at Ethan and Shinichi.

"I know Phil was busy with his own team, I just assumed..." Shinichi cut in.

"Ah ah ah ah, don't make an assumption kid." Hondo pointed a finger at Shinichi, leaning back in his chair. "Everybody knows that when you make an assumption. You'll only end up making an ass out of 'u' and 'mption'."

Ethan and Shinichi exchanged quick looks, mouthing a "what" to each other. Samantha seemed to find the walls very interesting in her attempt to not show amusement at the situation.

"You're damn lucky that those windows were tinted and bulletproof. Cause you wouldn't fathom the proverbial shit storm we would've been in, had someone found out you were transporting an alien." Hondo looked down and pinched the bridge of his nose. When he finally looked up he scanned all three of them. His artificial right eye glowing electric blue. "Now, you didn't come here just for a verbal ass kicking and contrary to what you might think. I have better things to do with my life."

"So, what's the new objective?" Samantha cut in as Ethan prepared a retort.

Hondo gave Sam a gruff smile. "You, are going to take the Bucephalus back to Shanxi and serve as the personal bodyguard for the diplomatic delegation. I need someone I can trust observing the peace talks. Afterwards you go to LV223. One of our joint comm buoys picked up activity in the system. The readings match the energy output of the alien ships at Shanxi."

The Deputy Director reached into a drawer in his desk and handed a file to each of the operatives. He then directed his gaze on Ethan and Shinichi. "As for you two sorry sons of bitches, you're going to Vekta. I hear terrorist season has just begun."

"Sir, if I may ask." Shinichi questioned as he opened his file. "Shouldn't we be focusing on the aliens? After all, the Cold War has been raging for thirty years now."

Hondo leaned back in his chair, a serious look on his face. "Recent events has let us to believe that something big is about to go down. Your objective is to find out what the ISA and the Helghast are planning, and get to the bottom of it. You'll be inserted as newly graduated Shadow Recruits, stationed at Vekta to reinforce the Marshals there."

"And the aliens, Sir?"

"The Helghast and the UCN unlike the aliens, Kusanagi. Represent a clear and present danger." Hondo righted himself and waved at them. "Now, don't you have somewhere to be?"

As all three Ghosts stood in the elevator, Ethan was the first to break silence. "So, after we've settled down as newly appointed Shadow Marshals then what?"

Shinichi looked over his file. "The file mentions a man named Steven Heck, supposedly a CIA agent. He should be able to help us with our Helghast problem. What about you Sam?"

"It looks like some of those aliens have discovered something they shouldn't. I have to stop them. By all means necessary."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want another incident like Koreatown," Ethan cut in.

They stopped half ways as Samantha had to get off. She gave Shinichi and Ethan a hug as the doors opened.

"Good luck you two, I'll see if I can get to Vekta later." She smiled as she stepped out. "And stay out of trouble."

"I don't know what you're talking 'bout, Sis. We always stay out of trouble," Ethan laughed while the doors slid close. He stretched himself and let out a yawn as he leaned against the back wall.

"Since you've been nagging me about my personal life so much," Shinichi grinned. "What happened to that redhead you were with?"

"Alexis?" Ethan turned his head and shook it lightly. "Nah, didn't work out. Long term relationships aren't really a...solid thing in our line of work. The fact that I was undercover as an internal affairs agent, who was undercover as a regular cop...just made for even more confusion." Ethan shrugged his shoulders. "It was fun while it lasted, besides she didn't deserve the hazards present in our lives."

"You know, I read some of her dad's books. They're quite good actually."

"Really? Why don't you tell me about it then."

August 15
Shanxi
General Adrien Victus looked down on Shanxi from the window in conference room of the Destiny Ascension. In just about three hours they had been defeated. The Turians and the Protheans, the peacekeepers of the Citadel had been defeated.

Adrien turned around and sat back in one of the chairs circling the round conference table. Pride, that was what had done them in. Pride. Adrien huffed. Damn the protheans for enforcing Citadel laws to a tee and damn turian nature for following suit. All because these humans had a passing resemblance to Quarians. Victus knew better.

During the Geth War the quarians had to travel through prothean space. Some of them resorted to less than legal actions when it came to acquiring resources. Looting and piracy had been quite a problem before prothean military clamped down on the quarian refugees. Afterwards the protheans lobbied heavily for the expulsion of the quarians as members of the Citadel. Going as far as keeping them from settling on a new planet. Reasoning that history would repeat itself. That was three hundred years ago and artificial intelligence has since been banned under Citadel law.

Victus balled his hands into fists. Protheans, always ready to jump at any perceived issue as a reason for war. The humans had treated the captured soldiers better than expected. As equals even. Though the soldiers in green with a red flag displaying gold stars on their shoulders looked ready to just shoot them on sight. Fortunately those in different uniforms either talked them down or outright threatened to shoot them if any harm came to them.

This did not mean the quarians were without fault in his eyes. They strip mined planets without thought of environmental consequences, dumped dangerous criminals on peaceful worlds and bullied smaller systems into lending them aid. Their nomadic scavenger society had left them stagnant. A once proud and forward-thinking people turned to desperate planet looters obsessed with a goal they would never reasonably attain

The doors to the conference room slid open as a turian and asari walked in. The turian like Victus was dressed in a purple and grey uniform instead of armor. The asari was in a less armored commando uniform. They both took a seat adjacent to Victus. The turian put a holo tablet down and looked at the General. "Glad to see you all good and well, Victus."

"Me too, Septimus, Lidanya." Victus clicked his mandibles and greeted Praetor General Septimus Oraka and Matriarch Lidanya. "If you don't mind me asking, what's the death toll?"

Septimus sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Around thirty thousand dead. Another five thousand missing. Some of their weapons completely vaporized any who were hit."

"What about the protheans?"

"Fuming as usual, itching for a reason to continue this war, after all...they lost a fleet," Lidanya informed. "How did that happen?"

"We were taken by surprise, Arterius and Kevran expected any reinforcements to come from the relay. Instead they attacked us from every direction."

"Yes, the report mentions that." Septimus stroked his chin as the conference doors slid open again. Two salarians walked in, one dressed in black armor with two yellow stripes running down, the other wore STG armor.

"Greetings generals, matriarch, I am Spectre Jondum Bau and this is STG Science Officer Padok Wiks." The salarian in front said, gesturing to the other. They took a seat as the rest of the room greeted them.

"Let's get to it," Bau said as he got comfortable in his seat. "General Victus, your report mentions that these humans do not use element zero, right?"

"Oh, they use element zero, just not in their starships. They have some kind of non-element zero propulsion system enabling them to make extremely precise jumps at will."

"Interesting," Padok Wiks mused. "Reminds me of slipspace drive theories."

"Interesting? That's all, you don't find this more surprising...more revolutionary?" General Oraka enquired.

"We have long known that alternate ways of FTL travel is possible. Cost and energy is what has held us back. To believe that element zero is essential to any spacefaring civilization is both arrogant and simple-minded."

Lidanya butted in before the science officer could continue. "Be that as it may, what about their weapons. Victus?"

"Most of their weapons are kinetic in nature, but instead of being mass accelerated they use propellant for their rounds. They seem to reserve rail accelerators for larger guns."

"I assume they had a good effect on our armor? Considering the casualty numbers." Bau added.

"Their bullets were as good against our armor as theirs were at stopping ours." Victus leaned forward, hands folded on the table. "While in space they had the element of surprise and weaponry we did not anticipate. On ground we were more or less evenly matched. At least soldier against soldier."

"What do you mean?" Lidanya asked, leaning forward, her head resting in her hand.

"The regulars we could fight evenly, but there were some of their soldiers..." Victus paused, looking as if he was going over a particular bad memory. "Some of them used jet packs and what I assume would be nano gloves to scale buildings and obstacles. The men called them 'Rocket Troopers', extremely fast and hard to kill."

"Some men mentioned them taking out entire squads singlehandedly." Oraka commented.

"Were they the cause of defeat?" Bau leaned back in his chair, going over a few files on his omnitool.

"No, defeat was inevitable. We might have been able to hold out for a few hours more, but then they called down massive mechanized walkers."

"Walkers?" Wiks uttered, a look of interest on his face.

"Yes, giant walkers that those rocket troopers used. They also seemed to have some form of intelligence as they could function autonomously until a pilot jumped into them."

"Any weakness to these walkers?"

"Nothing but our best anti-armor weaponry, and even then, they still seemed capable of going on. I believe we only took down five of around fifty walkers."

"The STG would be quite interested in hearing more about these walkers." Wiks said, activating his omnitool.

"They're in my report."

Septimus cleared his throat. "Let's go back to the weapons, did they have anything unusual. Laser based weaponry for example?"

"Only as heavy weapons. Some soldiers had something that looked like man-portable laser cannons. A few of those walkers had similar weapons, but on a larger scale. Even some that shot lightning."

"Fascinating," Wiks mused, a glint in his eyes told everyone that his mind was already brimming with ideas. "The handheld energy weapons we have are still just prototypes."

"What about those ships of theirs?" Lidanya questioned, indicating with a hand at the black dreadnaught sized ship they could see out the window. It had a saucer shaped main part connected to a smaller body that held up two large pylons above the ship. The light coming from the vessel were various shades of blue, especially from the two pylons. It was surrounded by smaller ships of the same design, though white instead of black.

"While they took us by surprise, I do believe we could take them in a fair fight. The real problem would be their laser technology." Victus paused to pour himself a glass of water.

"Yes, that could prove a problem," Oraka said as he gazed out the window at the human fleet. "The only laser based weaponry our ships possess is the GUARDIAN systems."

"It's not impossible to convert a GUARDIAN system into a long range laser battery." Jondum Bau added. "But the sheer power required for range and damage output far outweigh the benefits. A single salvo able to shred a ship apart would necessitate energy equivalent to roughly 96% of that produced by the Destiny Ascension during a relay jump."

"We would need to retrofit a majority of our ship with silaris armor or an equivalent." Lidanya took a drink from her water. "Until a viable solution for energy shielding moves out of the planning phases."

Oraka leaned back, a hand on his forehead. "They are at least ten to twenty years ahead of us in arms technology. What is to say that they haven't moved further ahead when we catch up."

"I think we've had enough about their weapons. What about ship design?" Bau interrupted.

Victus tapped his omnitool and a hologram appeared on the table. "As you know, these humans are not a united species. Their weapons and ships vary greatly from each faction." The General waved his hand at the hologram until the ships of the United Systems appeared. "These ships with the saucer design belong to one human group, the United Systems Alliance, not all of them are as aesthetically pleasing though. A few of their ships are blocky and military in design."

Wiks leaned forward to get a good look. "Reports mention this Systems Alliance as having the most advanced ships of the attacking fleet." The salarian waved through the various holograms until coming upon the vertical styled ships of the UCN. "These ships seemed to prefer the use of missiles."

"Yes, the United Colonial Nations." Victus nodded. "It seems that they prefer the use of missile barrages rather than lasers."

"And these last ones." Lidanya asked, bringing up a picture of the Chinese ships. They had a long rectangular middle with a massive spinal gun and what looked like two wings on each side. "What about them?"

"Not as armed as the others, but still packing a punch. They belong to the Chinese. The people whose planet we attacked."

"Let's change the subject." The salarian Spectre brought up a detailed hologram of two humans - a male and a female. "What about these humans?"

"They're quite pleasing to the eyes, I'll give them that," Lidanya said, magnifying the view of the female. "Quite a resemblance to Quarians, wouldn't you say?"

"With the exception of arms, legs, lack of bioluminescent eyes and non-leaf shaped ears...yes. They do share a physical resemblance to Quarians. Though that's where it ends. They're levo-amino acid based lifeforms." Padok Wiks cut in. "I would wager that they're much closer in biology to asari."

"What about batarians?"

"No, Victus. They might share a superficial likeness to batarians, but like Wiks said. They're much close to asari. Batarians after all are marsupials and while their females have mammary glands, they don't have breasts like asari, quarians and now humans." Jondum Bau said, before the other salarian could give his two cents.

"Resemblance or none. Their military prowess certainly speaks for itself." Oraka leaned back, a hand at his chin. "Wouldn't you say, Victus?"

"They could be a formidable ally or a terrible enemy. I only hope the Council's delegates know that."

"Aye." The rooms occupants agreed.

While extraplanetary mining is a huge business. The fact remains that it is far more cost effective to extract natural resources from a habitable planet. Hence why the Frontier, which has a habitable planet in every system, is considered highly lucrative territory.

The diplomat sent by the United Nations walked through the white hallways of the Grayson a Constitution-class cruiser that would serve as the meeting point for all parts involved. He was to represent the People's Republic of China in this matter. The Society had always served as the mitigators in conflicts where one or more parties involved would be too enraged for any negotiations to have a satisfactory resolution.

Throughout his around three hundred and fifty years of life, Sonny had seen many things. Times of war, times of peace of happiness and sadness. A people united in a common goal and those same people divided over the same cause. What made humanity special in Sonny's eyes was not their ability for great violence and great compassion, but their perseverance in the face of adversity.

The android smiled and looked up as he was intercepted by a Captain Stephanie Honor. She was clad in the grey dress uniform of the United Systems Starfleet. She had opted for pants instead of a skirt. Her silver hair was pulled into a knot, giving her a stern and sharp look. She was a tall woman around six foot one.

"Sonny," she greeted the first leader of the Society of Artificial intelligence. He had long since shed his original metal chassis and was using a Tudyk model synthetic body. He gave her a smile and nodded, running a hand through his short blonde hair.

"Captain." Sonny shook the Captain's hand as they moved towards the meeting room. "If I may ask, why is Captain Talbott not representing the United Systems?"

"Captain Talbott is currently preoccupied with the restoration of Shanxi. There's still a lot of bodies to clean up," Stephanie replied.

Councillor Tevos was anxious. The humans had made her and the rest of the delegation wait for two days before any diplomatic talks could commence. Stating that finding and identifying wounded and dead took precedence.

She was young for a Councilor, just six hundred years old. Having taken over from the previous asari Councilor - Aethyta, who had been a rather controversial figure in galactic politics. Promoting expanded militarization and a restriction to the years maidens use on exploring the galaxy. Surprising no one, Aethyta had been ousted as Councilor after only two hundred of her four hundred year term - when she seriously suggested they should make an effort to study and duplicate mass relays. Or it might have been the fact that she headbutted Matriarch Pallathena, her strongest critic.

After only ten years in office, this was Tevos first major diplomatic incident and one she did not even have a hand in. Asari Vice Councillor Irissa Adrasteia had been the one signing the authorization papers in her stead together with Salarian Vice Councilor Esheel and Prothean Councilor Krejoff. The Primarchs had overruled Sparatus' protests, ensuring that the invasion would be approved by a majority ruling. Both her and Valern had been away on a diplomatic visit to Illium, unable to support Sparatus and first finding out about the invasion through the Special Tasks Group and Spectre Jondum Bau.

The asari leaned back in her leather swivel chair and turned to look out the single window.

The conference table was an open circle, a round lamp matching it hang parallel above. A holo-projector was at the center of the circle. The large black dreadnaught of the humans was looming ominously above them. The light from its deflector dish brightening the darkness with blue light.

"Quite a ship," Councilor Valern stated, having moved to her side.

"Excuse me?" Tevos said, having been pulled out of her thoughts.

"Quite a ship," Valern repeated. "From preliminary readings it is fourteen hundred meters from bow to aft. Fairly pleasing to the eyes too. These ships of the United Systems. Unlike those other hulking beasts of metal."

"It's still dwarfed by the Ascension though," Tevos commented. That human dreadnaught while larger than most battleship sized vessels owned by the Citadel races, prothean and turian dreadnoughts topped at around nine hundred meters. It was still dwarfed by the Destiny Ascension which was three kilometers high and nineteen hundred meters long.

"Don't let size fool you Tevos," Turian Councilor Sparatus butted in. "This conflict has proved that their weapons can go toe to toe with ours. Footage shows that they're extremely maneuverable and able to fight at knife range quite well... Unlike our ships," Sparatus added with some bile.

"Yes, yes, their ships are great. Do not though, Sparatus. Mistake a single engagement as the final product of superiority." Prothean Councilor Krejoff said impatiently, taking a place in the chair on Tevos' left. Sparatus took the one on the right. They were allowed two guards in the room as well as their personal aids. "What is taking them so long? We already agreed to meet on one of their ships."

Just as those words had left Krejoff's lips the other door to the room opened, stopping whatever retort Tevos had in mind. Three people walked in, a blonde man with a friendly smile on his face, a stern looking woman with silver hair and a darker skinned man with grey hair. Only one guard accompanied them. Female, clad in white combat gear and a matching face concealing helmet. The visor was polarized with a blue honeycomb pattern. Unlike theirs, she was carrying no weapons, but a cylinder at her hip.

"Greetings Councilors I am Ambassador Sonny, speaking on behalf of the People's Republic of China." Sonny gestured towards the Captain and the other man, they both gave a curt nod.

"Councilors, I am Captain Stephanie Honor of the USS Harrington. Representing the interests of the United Systems Alliance."

"And I am Ambassador Donnel Udina, speaking on behalf of the United Colonial Nations," Udina spoke. He took a seat, with Sonny and Honor, in front of the Councilors who introduced themselves in return. The conference room was eerily silent for a few seconds before it was broken by Sparatus.

"Captain Honor, Ambassador Sonny. On behalf of the Citadel and its people, we the Citadel Council offer you our sincerest of apologies." The Councilors stood up and gave a short bow each. Krejoff did it grudgingly his four eyes glaring at the humans.

Sonny, Udina and Stephanie returned with a nod. Sonny let out a smile and leaned back slightly. "Then let us begin."

"You must understand that for an apology to carry over to the people. It needs to be official."

"Of course Captain, in due time, at your leisure." Tevos answered

"Good. It'll be on Shanxi, we'll give you the location. Expect it to be around a week from now." The Councilors nodded. Their aids already clearing their schedules for less important meeting.

"Now, while I am all for talks of peace." Sonny said. "I would rather do it without the threat of war looming over my head."

"You can rest easy Ambassador. All fleets have been pulled back to their original patrols. any military movement against your people ceased effective immediately."

The next hour was spent on peace talks and payment of reparations to the states involved, prisoner exchange, as well as information on the Citadel and the human star nations involved in the conflict. Councilor Krejoff was mostly silent, only acknowledging that he was following the conversations with curt nods or subdued grumbling.

"I believe that settles it then," Stephanie said, a pleased smile on her face.

"Now the question that has been on our peoples mind," Udina cut in, putting down his holopad. "What kind of action warranted an attack on the Chinese Exploratory Fleet?"

Sparatus let out a sigh, leaning his forehead on his fingers, looking down slightly ashamed. "The actions of overzealous men interpreting Citadel law too loosely."

"With good reason, Sparatus!" Krejoff interrupted. "Does the word 'Rachni' mean anything to you?"

"Good reason! Your Prothean Dominion caused all this!"

"Your Primarchs came to us with information and we acted on it. Maintaining Citadel law, that was what happened here."

"You betrayed that law by firing on innocent people!"

"Councilors!" Tevos and Valern spoke up, trying to diffuse the growing argument.

"The means to an end!" The Prothean had pushed his seat aside, standing up, staring over the table at Sparatus who had done the same.

"Means to an end? You started a massacre!"

"I UPHELD CITADEL LAW!"

"UPHOLDING THE LAW DOES NOT LEAD TO FULL SCALE WAR! MILLIONS ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF THIS!"

The Prothean Councilor let out a roar as he vaulted over the table jumped at Sparatus, sending them both sprawling on the ground. The turian hit him back, kicking him in the stomach with his both feet. Sending the prothean into the table. Both of them get up quickly. Ready to lunge at each other and turn the diplomatic talks into a brawl. The councilors aids had scrambled into the far end wall. Trying to get away from the oncoming fight.

"ENOUGH!" Tevos yelled, getting up from her chair. The two guards accompanying her approaching cautiously.

Krejoff turned his head towards Tevos, baring his teeth in a snarl, rage having taken over any reason left in him. Just as he was about to move towards her, he is stopped by a solid object impacting with his head.

Samantha had moved swiftly behind him, faster than the two alien guards. Having extended her baton on the way she hit the Prothean hard on the back of his head. The next hit was aimed at the small of his back and then the back of his knee. As he fell down she smashed his head into the table corner. Knocking him out.

Stunned silence enveloped the room. The alien guards had their tazer guns aimed at Samantha who nonchalantly walked back to her position by the other door. Tevos held a hand up as Sparatus returned to his seat. Taking a big gulp of water from his glass.

"Guards, escort Councilor Krejoff back to our shuttle and restrict him to it! He has proven himself unfit for duty." Valern ordered. He cleared his throat, giving everyone time to calm down.

Sparatus interrupted the silence. "You must excuse the Councilor, his people are very proud individuals and dueling is a common occurrence. This is not the first time this has happened..."

"We understand Councilor," Sonny said, trying to reassure the rest of the room. "Among our people we have some like him. We take no offense."

Captain Honor nodded. Udina seemed ready with a reply, but kept silent.

Tevos looked at the human guard. She intrigued her, the human had moved faster than any of them could register. Faster than their own guards - two of C-Secs best. And for someone to effortlessly take down a fully grown prothean, even one with his back turned, would require considerable strength. The asari perished the thought, probably just a skilled individual.

"I believe I speak for the whole Council when I say that we wish only peace between our people," Tevos spoke sincerely. "But you must understand that what the Turian Hierarchy and Prothean Dominion did, was technically legal under Citadel law."

"The fleet sent to Shanxi was only meant to blockade the system, until further plans for first contact could be made." Sparatus followed. "It was never meant to attack."

"Then why did it happen?" Udina questioned, a slight hint of bile in his voice.

Valern was the one to divulge that information. "Because the Hierarchy and the Dominion wanted new territory, new technology, which your people displayed. And they used soldiers like Arterius and Kevran for it. Relying on their honor and duty as turian and prothean to circumvent their ability to reason and question the motives."

"How do you know this Councilor?" Stephanie Honor asked, having remained silent for the most part since Krejoff's outburst.

"I have my sources," Valern simply stated, obviously not willing to divulge what sources. Honor accepted it and did not push further.

"The Salarians are quite adept information gatherers," Sparatus informed. He let out a long breath of air, placing his head in both hands, looking down at the table. "Both prothean and turian societies are build around duty and honor. Unfortunately many of my kind interpret it as following orders blindly or worse...honor and duty being open for interpretation."

"If we could go back to Citadel law," Udina said, steering the conversation back on track. "Could you clarify what you meant with technically legal?"

The Councilors spent the next half hour explaining Citadel law, the Rachni War, and future trials on war crimes. A point Udina was very invested in. Stephanie was less than pleased with the law regarding inactive relays, but could understand the reason behind it. They too were cautious around systems containing Engineer or Mala'kak ruins. Though that information she neither had the authority to, nor would divulge.

"It doesn't sound very reasonable, wouldn't it be better to simply contain ships tampering with a relay?" Sonny asked. "Shooting first and asking questions later, is rarely the best of first impressions."

"Sadly yes, but any ratifications to tighten that law and make it less open for interpretation has always been met with staunch opposition." Sparatus informed. "Our people fear the unknown and even now, centuries after, scars from the Rachni War are still visible on several planets."

"While I can't say I'm happy with it, there doesn't seem to be much we can do. For now." Udina added, grumbling as he punched in several notes on his holopad.

"Why don't we move onto lighter subjects?" Tevos suggested as everyone leaned back in their chairs, obviously tired by the load of information and the heavy topics.

The humans and the aliens used the next hour on lighter topics such as their cultures and customs, human and alien biology, technology, their populations and territory. The latter topic was only superficial as neither part wanted to reveal too much. They did manage to draw up hypothetical borders, though that would be decided on a alter date, when all diplomats from the different human nations could gather.

Valern and Sparatus were very intrigued by the humans directed energy weapons or phasers as they called it. While Tevos was more interested in their agriculture and medical technology. Still they all mentally agreed that they had much to learn from these - humans. Especially when it came to their faster-than-light propulsion systems.

The humans too knew they could learn much from the Citadel races. Their mastery of the mass effect could benefit their industries. Still, they were cautious when it came to information regarding their technology. Neither of the three had the authority to set up trade relation.

They had now moved onto the last topic - diplomatic relations with the Citadel races.

"We the Councilors of the Citadel and representatives of our respective people are willing to grant humanity an embassy on the Citadel as well as associate member status. In addition to any reparations we agreed upon earlier." Tevos said as regally as possible. Inwardly she groaned, there was no way these humans would willingly accept it. They had just won a major battle and from the information the three had given regarding their cultures; humanity was simply too varied a race to ever unite under one banner. Not even counting the fact that they were attacked.

"What would associate membership entail?" Sonny asked, stroking his chin, the smile gone from his face. Replaced with a stoic expression.

There was something eerily non-human about him, Tevos thought.

"Citadel Associate Membership confers a great many economic benefits, including decreased tariffs on natural resources, materials and trade. As well as integration with many academic, social and political institutes across the known galaxy," Tevos recited. The humans seemed to contemplate her words.

"However, associate member status does not correspond with a seat on the Citadel Council. In addition, you must sign and follow the Citadel Conventions, including the Treaty of Farixen and restrictions on research and creation of artificial intelligence." Valern joined in, waving at the aids to hand over the spoken of data to the humans.

"Could you clarify these Conventions?" Stephanie asked politely after giving the documents a glance.

"Of course, the Citadel Conventions comprise the treaties and additional protocols, that establish the standards of interstellar law for the altruistic treatment of war. To regulate and restrict the usage of weapons of mass destruction, to avert the destruction of habitable planets. The galaxy contains millions of planets both hospitable and inhospitable, but the former are far and few between. Terraforming can take decades for affect. The permanent loss of a garden world is simply...unsatisfactory," the Salarian informed. Udina remained the only one having not put his file down.

"Ah, we have something similar in our Geneva Conventions," Honor gave smirk. "I don't think we'll have a problem regarding that."

"What we will have a problem with is this, 'Treaty of Farixen'!" Udina exclaimed, one could practically hear the verbal exclamation points.

Sonny held his hand up, interrupting Udina. "Could you clarify, Councilors?"

Sparatus cleared his throat. "The Treaty of Farixen was implemented after the Krogan Rebellions to maintain the balance of power and peace throughout the galaxy. It serves to limit the production of battleships - dreadnoughts - in the given fleets of each Citadel race.

"These dreadnoughts are vessels above eight hundred meters, with a minimum weapons yield of sixty terajoules or above, right?"

"Correct," Valern answered.

"I assume that the number of battleships is at a fixed ratio, granting the Council an edge over associate members?" Stephanie asked.

"Of course," Sparatus replied. "The Citadel Fleet is a peacekeeping armada enforcing the law among the stars. A superior number of dreadnoughts ensures that peace can be maintained. It's a deterrent to any possible attacker."

"It is unacceptable, our leaders will never agree on this!" Udina declared, tightening his right hand into a fist.

"Please forgive the Ambassador's temper," Sonny said. Stephanie put a hand on Udina's shoulder to calm him down. "We have always had a bad history when it comes to military restrictions. Therefore I do believe additional details are needed. What is the ratio of dreadnoughts?"

"At the top is the turians and protheans who make out most of the Citadel Fleet. Second are we the asari and the salarians. Council associate members are third. The ratio is five, three and one. For every five dreadnoughts the turians and protheans have, we are allowed three, and all other Citadel races one." Tevos informed.

"Signing the Treaty of Farixen is a requirement for any race wishing to open an embassy on the Citadel." Valern added.

Stephanie scowled, switching her gaze from councilor to councilor. "And how many dreadnoughts do the turians and protheans possess?"

"At this time the Hierarchy is in possession of 71 dreadnought class vessels. The Dominion has 75. At the moment both the asari and salarians are allowed a total of fourty-five, which leaves the associate members a maximum of 15."

"Therein lies the problem Councilors, our nations do not like to be held back!" Udina said sternly. "We have had bad experiences with such restrictions. Such a treaty would require the UCN to shelve several vessels. What if you tighten those restrictions in the future due to the destructive capability of our ships!"

Tevos nodded slightly and bit her lower lip. Valern seemed to contemplate Udina's words, while Sparatus eyes widened at the human's outburst; several vessels. How many ships did these humans have.

Sonny spoke up next, trying to alleviate the tension caused by Udina. "Please understand, Councilors. Humanity has known war for millennia. While we would wish for nothing but peace. We also do not wish to make ourselves vulnerable. Just fifteen years ago we put an end to our largest interstellar war, the scars from that war are still fresh. Fear and paranoia still roams among the people. They want a shield to hide behind and our fleets are that shield."

Sparatus looked with sympathy at Sonny and gave an understanding nod. It had been many decades since his people had fought a large scale war, but they certainly wouldn't cut down on their own ships afterwards. If that was the case.

Stephanie sighed and took a sip of water. "Councilors, five centuries ago, when we were still planetary bound. We had a similar treaty called the 'Washington Naval Treaty', drawn up in the aftermath of our first global war in an attempt to maintain the balance of power between our world's leading nations."

Sonny took over. "It was made to prevent an arms race, limiting the construction of capital ships and aircraft carriers, smaller ships were limited by tonnage. Of course a little over ten years later two of the signatories renounced the treaty, making naval arms limitation an increasingly untenable position for the other signatories."

"Then why not punish them?" Valern asked.

"We had just ended a major war and in the middle of an economic depression. Japan, one of the nations denouncing the treaty saw the five to three ratio as them being snubbed and in the end they ignored it." Sonny continued. "What I'm trying to tell you Councilors, is that limiting arms treaties...have a way of undermining political relations between the nations involved. It builds resentment."

"Of course there were opposition and support among the populace of all involved and the entire situation was far more complicated than that." Stephanie added. "Our history is in the codex we exchanged, if you want to know more."

The Councilors nodded, Sparatus and Tevos looked particularly excited in reading up on human history.

Tevos broke the silence, returning to the topic at hand. "So what do you say, ambassadors. Will your respective nations join the Citadel?"

The humans and android exchanged looks for a minute, before they all nodded.

Stephanie was the one to speak up. "Councilors, while I am sure that some of our people would love to join the Citadel. I'm afraid that decision is not for us to make. We'll have to speak with our leaders and even then, it's not set in stone."

"From what I understand every Citadel race is united by a common front, right?" The Councilors confirmed Sonny's question.

"Humanity is simply too divided to band together in such a union. Maybe some of the minor stellar nations would like to join you." Stephanie sighed. "We will inform our superiors of this offer and we'll likely have a reply next week. For the memorial ceremony. Where all human stellar nations will arrive."

The humans rose from their seats. The councilors did too. "Councilors this meeting is adjourned. Good day."

Zeta 2 Reticuli
LV-223
August 23
The Zeta Reticuli system is a classified and quarantined star system under the Interplanetary Treaty Organization. Trillions of Golf ball sized communications buoys are scattered across the system. Warning any joint fleet of ships trespassing in the system. The problem though is that Zeta Reticuli lacks planets habitable for human occupation and is rather isolated because of it. Instead the ITO dispatches regular fleets to patrol the quarantined systems.

While the public does not know why several systems throughout space are isolated and quarantined. The truth is that when the Templars and Assassins found out what happened to the Prometheus expedition and the dangers posed by Mala'kak technology, they pressured the world governments to quarantine systems holding the ruins of humanity's precursor.

Still, ambitious megacorporations, governments, and even some Templars and Assassins do venture into these quarantined systems despite the dangers. In the hope of finding the ultimate weapon to destroy their opposition. None have succeeded. The Ghosts have been adamant in keeping Engineer technology from enemy hands. Regularly dispatching top operatives to take out exploration teams.

The event of 2388 in the Wen Kroy Koreatown, is a testament to the dangers of Engineer technology. When a Weyland-Yutani lab experienced an outbreak while experimenting with the Mala'kak chemical agent A0-3959X.91 - 15, also known as - Black Liquid. An extremely potent mutagenic pathogen, composed of millions of small micro-organisms that when exposed to another organism, begins mutating its host. The host becomes extremely aggressive and seemingly mindless, attacking any living thing in sight. All the while making the host extremely resilient to physical injury.

One of the Weyland scientists got infected with the pathogen and spread it through the lab, attacking the personnel. Those unlucky enough to survive an attack mutated into - in other words - rage zombies. Although the Wen Kroy Federal Police managed to lock down the lab. In the end, Strategic Homeland Defense had to send in a special forces unit to initiate the underground laboratory's containment system. Incinerating the entire building.

Unfortunately ships do manage to bypass both patrolling fleets and the comm buoys from time to time. Such a ship, belonging to the Citadel races had done just that. Dispatched on an exploratory mission, with the goal of finding precursor ruins and artifacts, they had stumbled upon the planet LV-223.

It just so happened that the Citadel expedition had landed in the exact same valley that Doctor Shaw and the Prometheus expedition had done just a little under three centuries ago. Of course the crash site of the Prometheus had long since been cleared away. Leaving only the husk of the Engineer ship and their massive temples. The only difference being that the Citadel exploration team had touched down on the opposite side of the valley. At the other end of the row of dome shaped temples.

Their ship was a scientific vessel with a long rectangular body. The front curved upwards into the cockpit, which was placed above the hangar bay. It had four massive wings - each with a round VTOL engine, enabling it to land rather softly. At the moment, the crew was restrained to the ship, it was night time and a massive silicate storm was raging outside. The interior of the ship was lit in bright colors.

Liara T'soni was frustrated. It had been just a few hours since they made it planetside, after having combed through this binary star system for over a week. Now because of this storm, they were unable to explore the massive alien domes further. Typical, just when they found a planet worth investigating. They could not.

They had barely made it to the entrance of the closest dome before they had to return to the ship.

Maelon, the assistant to the Chief Science Officer Mordin Solus, had managed to send in a group of scanning drones, who were now mapping the interior of the structure.

Solus had been appointed by the Citadel Council to lead this expedition and in return he was allowed to handpick his own team. Liara had jumped at the chance of exploring alien ruins unrelated to the precursors who made the mass relays.

At the moment Liara was sitting in the common room, at the dinner table, looking at the holographic screen one the wall to her left. A cup of hot brewed beverage in hand. They had long since finished dinner and the crew had returned to their own quarters.

"Tonight on the Galaxy News Network we'll discuss the aftermath of the peace talks following the Shanxi Memorial ceremony and humanity's upcoming role in galactic society. I am your host Safira Saphyra." The asari talk show host said on the screen said.

"Joining us as our guests tonight are General Adrien Victus, who saw combat on the surface of Shanxi." Victus lifted his left hand, greeting the audience. He was situated in one of the chairs left to the hosts desk, or the right if you were the host. He was closest.

"Military advisor of the Asari Republics and former Councilor, Matriarch Aethyta." Aethyta waved lazily at the crowd, having decided on a glass and bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy instead of water like Victus. She was in the middle chair.

Liara groaned inwardly. Worst case scenario; her father would flip the table in front of her in rage. Best case scenario...what was she thinking, best case scenario and Aethyta did not go together.

"And last but not least, STG Science Officer Padok Wiks." Wiks too waved at the audience. A smile on his face.

"Now, first question for tonight - since you both participated in the memorial ceremony on Shanxi. What are these humans like." The host brought up a hologram of two humans, male and female with model good looks. "Quite pleasing to the eyes right?"

Aethyta was the first to speak up. "Trust me, not everyone of them are as pretty as those two. But those who are. I tell you, if it's asses you go for. Dive right in!"

Liara facepalmed, rubbing her eyes and stared into her tea in embarrassment.

Safira cleared her throat, obviously not prepared for the Matriarchs outburst, but still stealing a glance at the holographic woman's rear. "Yes...I can see that..."

"Ah, humans!" Mordin exclaimed as he entered the common area. The TV droned on about human biology. "Interesting race. Very individualistic. Very united. Will band together if all are threatened. Fight against each other if not."

"Solus, these humans intrigue you?" Liara queried.

Solus pulled out a chair beside Liara. "Yes. Very. Don't fit any mold. Salarians, known for science. Asari, politics. Turians, duty. Protheans, military. And so on. Of course that's not exactly true. But that's the hat people have given us. These humans. Fit all molds."

Liara nodded and returned her attention to the screen.

"...Now these humans, their population numbers at around seventy billion. That's ten billion more than the Citadel races combined. What effect do you believe this will have on the galaxy?" The host directed at Victus.

"There's one thing you must understand about humanity." Victus answered. "They are not a united species, even if they're able to band together against a common enemy. Yes their population is large, but it is their ideologies and their cultures that will play a role in the galaxy. Not their population numbers."

"Unless someone manages to piss them off," Aethyta added. "Like a certain patrol fleet. Two months ago."

Padok Wiks then began talking about the various human factions, while the others informed the audience of their different cultures. Aethyta talked about their many religions, but to Liara's horror and discomfort, always managed to turn the conversation towards their gods of love or 'partying' - like Aphrodite and Dionysus.

Though when the subject centered on a region of the human homeworld called Mesopotamia and the goddess Ishtar. Liara did admit she was intrigued. There was a great similarity with Athame.

"Humans!" Another voice exclaimed, having just entered the common area and pulled out a chair at the table.

Liara recognized the quarian Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, personally picked by Mordin after having saved her from a group of Shadow Broker operatives. She was probably the only person the Asari knew, who was able to extract data from a geth core. The quarian had proved indispensable to the crew, as her knowledge of mass effect cores had kept the ship running far more smoothly than possible. Her tech savviness would prove useful if any of the alien ruins contained ancient computer systems.

"Yes," Mordin acknowledged her. "Their technology is quite impressive."

"Their non-element zero propulsion systems could change the course of galactic history!" Tali almost squealed, such technology could save the Migrant Fleet.

They all returned their attention to the screen. Where Padok Wiks had just finished explaining human technology, or rather the technology they had been allowed to inspect until further trade relations could be established. They had been adamant in keeping their warp drives away from prying eyes.

"Now General, how was fighting these humans, what are they like in battle?"

Victus appeared to consider his words for a long time. "Unlike any enemy I've encountered before. With krogans, batarians and vorcha you know what you'll get. A heavy frontal assault with only a few specially trained in warfare. Not a lot of tactics."

The General used the pause to empty his cup. "How do I best describe their military doctrine...it's like...fighting all of us combined. Some are like krogans, charging in blindly with no care for the consequences. Others are like us turians and protheans. Staunch, disciplined, honorable, able to keep their cool under any circumstances. Some are smart. Like salarians and asari, using tactics to outflank us. Striking quickly to wear us down. But those...those are their regulars."

"Care to clarify, general?" Safira asked, having put her notes down.

"I had the unfortunate experience of encountering some of their special forces. And they...they are ferocious. It's like taking on a krogan battlemaster mixed with the speed, agility and grace of an asari huntress." Victus shivered slightly as if trying to shake of the memory. "It was only the orders of surrender that saved my life. Saved my men."

"They sound like a fearsome enemy," The host stated, moving on to a new topic.

More of the crew had joined Liara, Mordin and Tali. Like Maelon Heplorn - Mordin's assistant. Batha and Rana Thanoptis - two asari who made up the science team. As well as a turian technician by the name of Sato Davaria.

The host and her three guests continued talking, moving onto lighter topics. Like what they experienced on Shanxi and human food. Until they reached their last topic, humanity and the Council.

"This humanity has to join the Citadel right?" Rana voiced. "No race has ever declined...well except for the Yahg."

"Maybe...I'm not so sure," Sato replied. "All other associate members have been rather weak upon first contact, only having taken their first steps into the universe. The humans have apparently been in space for quite some time."

"Not to mention that their military might ,matches that of the Council races." Maelon added.

"Since we've just been informed that the human star nations will not join the Citadel." The host informed, earning an outburst of surprise from some of the gathered crew.

They had been away from Citadel space for quite some time and had not yet received the news of the humans nations declining associate membership, opting to instead open embassies on the massive space station. They already had the United Nations, why join a similar institution that would try and regulate them further.

"It will certainly be an interesting future lying ahead of us. A future of wonders and mysteries to be discovered and solved," Padok Wiks added, interest in the humans evident on his face.

Victus cleared his throat, before adding his parting words. "I hope it will serve as a wake up call for the Hierarchy. That we can no longer rely solely on brute strength and shock attacks to win wars."

"And you Matriarch Aethyta?" Safira asked, reluctance evident as her voice wavered.

"I can only say this!" Aethyta barked. "I TOLD YOU SO! But no. You wouldn't listen. None of you would. Not the Matriarchs, not the Primarchs, not the Dalatrasses or the Prothean Senate or the associate members. NONE OF YOU!"

Liara nursed her head with both hands. She should have seen it coming. Her father rubbing her ignored wisdom in the face of the galaxy who wouldn't listen. Tali put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reaffirming squeeze.

"I tried to warn you! That at some point in the future we would meet a race, who would not cower before us, who would not play by our rules. We allowed ourselves to grow complacent, content in our cradle of power. Believing ourselves the apex predators of the galaxy."

Mordin gave Liara an amused look. Despite the Matriarch's crassness. She did have a point.

"I Told you that we should invest in new technology, develop new weapons, build our own relays. Become independent from precursor technology. But you ignored me!" Aethyta then looked directly at the camera. "And lo and behold, what happens? We meet a race independent of precursor technology. With weapons outclassing ours and able to take on the Citadels finest and walk away victorious. SO I SAY THIS ONCE AGAIN! I. TOLD. YOU. SO!"

Safira quickly cut in before the Matriarch could continue on another tirade. "And that's it for tonight. Thank you to General Adrien Victus, Science Officer Padok Wiks and Matriarch Aethyta. Have a continued good evening. This is Safira Saphyra on GNN."

"Well, that was certainly interesting." Tali commented.

Liara groaned having sunk down on the table with her hands over her head.

Unknown to any member of the Council expedition. One of Maelon's drones had roused something from its sleep in the deep darkness of the Mala'kak temple. Something that had been lying dormant, hibernating for almost three centuries. The beeping of the drones had disturbed its slumber.

Food had at long last arrived to this desolate place and the creature was eager to feast. The Deacon had awakened.

Alpha Centauri
Vekta
Vekta City
Shinichi and Ethan were in a private shuttle en route to the Vektan VSA. They had to arrive with a batch of other Shadow Marshal academy graduates. It was to blend in and not stand out. If they were the only ones to arrive, more eyes would be on them.

They were flying through Vekta City. It was beautiful, tall white buildings of glass facing the ocean, mountains behind it. Shuttles waving through the cityscape, leaving trails of blue light. The headquarters of the Vektan Security Agency was in the distance. The Director of the Shadow Marshals - Thomas Sinclair, was going to hold a speech in front of the building in ten minutes time.

"So just to be sure," Shinichi said from the pilot seat. The shuttle was small and only had two seats, it was sleek with two wings on each side, holding its engines. Shinichi in his love for flair and luxury had bought a Bugatti designed shuttle.

"I am Shadow Marshal Michael Thorton, recruited straight out of college and newly graduated from the Academy with adequate grades and a commendation." Ethan replied. "And you?"

"I am Jack Harper, former NASA astronaut and fighter pilot, pulled out of service and offered to join the Marshals. Et cetera, et cetera." Shinichi smiled.

They were both dressed in the olive green uniforms worn by Shadow Marshals not on combat duty.

"So we find out who's behind the increase in hostility between the Helghast and Vektans, kick some ass and save the day, right Major?"

"Something like that," Shinichi laughed, they were approaching the VSA HQ. "But it most likely won't be that easy."

"No it won't," Ethan shook his head and looked out the window.

"I suggest you look into this contact...Steven Heck, find out what he knows." Shinichi pointed a finger at Ethan. "Be wary though, I hear he's all kinds of crazy."

"Relax, crazy is my middle name. I'll be fine."

"Good, meanwhile I'll look into Helghast activity around the perimeter wall."

They had reached the VSA building and was circling it, moving towards the landing pads. A large crowd had gathered in front of the podium where Thomas Sinclair was beginning his speech. To rally support in ending the Helghast threat.

Echo was exhausted, she spent hours crawling, climbing and using her stealth unit to get to the abandoned building she was in now. All to avenge the only person who could have diffused the growing tension between her people and the Vektans. Now he was dead, betrayed by the one he had trusted the most.

The room's only window was covered with metal bars, but there was enough of an opening to do what she needed to.

Maya Visari pulled up her rifle. Flipped the scope covers off and adjusted it. She had found a good vantage point. Maya shuffled back a few feet. Enough for her rifle to not stick out the window. She steadied it and took aim.

Searching for her target. She found him. Standing above the crowd, above the people who would follow him blindly, believe whatever he told them. Even if it would lead to death and destruction.

Maya controlled her breathing. Inhale, exhale. Relax your body and focus your mind. Only one thing mattered, her and her target. Her right index finger moved to the trigger. The reticle was at her target's chest, the heart.

"For Kellan," Maya whispered and pulled the trigger. One second later Thomas Sinclair, the leader of the Shadow Marshals and murderer of Lucas Kellan, collapsed.

"HOLY SHIT, DID YOU SEE THAT!" Ethan exclaimed, having looked out the window as they approached the landing pads.

"WHAT!"

"SOMEONE SHOT SINCLAIR," Ethan yelled. "GET US DOWN MAJOR, NOW!"

As they landed as quickly as they could, the crowd was already dispersing in panic. Screams and yells from the frightened people echoed through the air. As the two Ghosts got out of their shuttle they saw Sinclair being taken away on a stretcher, towards a medical shuttle.

"Well shit, the Shadow Marshal Director gets shot on our day of arrival. That's a bad omen man. Can't get much worse than this." Ethan commented as the medical shuttle departed.

"You're a heartless bastard Ryan, a heartless bastard."

Citadel
Presidium
Prothean Councilor Chambers
Prothean Councilor Krejoff was fuming. How dare these humans decline the offer to join the Citadel. Even their minor stellar nations had followed their larger allies example and declined.

Were they scared of prejudice from their neighbors? Krejoff could only speculate. Now they could never be culled, never be taught the way of the Prothean Dominion, never learn their place in the Universe's natural order. Now the Dominion had to pay for technology they could otherwise have demanded.

The Prothean slammed a fist into his table, he kicked his chair aside and turned around. The entire back wall of his office was a window, the purple light of the Serpent nebula illuminating the room.

A knock on his door made him turn around.

"Come in!" He snarled.

The door slid open and two figures stepped in. A turian and a prothean - Spectres, the Council's best agents. They gave a short salute and placed themselves in front of Krejoff's desk.

"You requested our presence, Councilor," the Turian stated.

"Yes, indeed I did."

"What do you require of us?" the Prothean asked.

Krejoff cut right to the chase. "These humans are a blight upon the galaxy. They don't know their place. We need to remind them of the natural order of things."

"Are you suggesting a course of action, Sir?" the Turian enquired.

"Saren, you lost a brother to these humans right?"

"Yes and Nihlus too...a good friend and a fellow Spectre," Saren Arterius confirmed.

"You, Javik! General Kevran was your cousin?" Javik fixed him a cold gaze and nodded.

"You have both lost family and friends to these humans and I assume you seek vengeance."

Krejoff pulled his chair back to his desk and sat down "The course of action I'd suggest is a course of action I can't suggest."

Saren looked at the Councilor and clicked his mandibles. "I'm...not sure where that leaves us."

Krejoff leaned back and looked at both Spectres. "This humanity represent a clear and present danger to the national security of the Citadel and its systems."

Krejoff then pulled up a file from underneath his desk and handed it to Saren.

"Not long ago a Council scientific expedition reported a find in an uncharted system," Krejoff addressed to Saren. "Alien ruins, not matching precursor or any other known design, but since the peace talks at Shanxi. We made a discovery. That uncharted system is inside human space."

"You want me to go there, Sir?"

"Yes, these humans can't possibly have created the technology they have from scratch. They most likely have ruins holding advanced precursor tech. We believe the scientific expedition has found such a site." Krejoff then pointed at Saren. "You will leave immediately for that planet and acquire whatever they find, and bring it back."

"Consider it done," Saren replied, preparing to walk out.

"And Saren!" Krejoff stopped the turian. "No witnesses, kill them all."

Saren gave what counted as a turian smile, bowed and left.

Krejoff then turned his attention to Javik. "As for you Javik, I have a different task in mind. I need to know about this element called...petrusite."

Zeta Reticuli System
Bucephalus
Samantha was in the Bucephalus' armory, going over her equipment. She had already briefed the crew of their mission - to find out what this Citadel ship was doing in one of their systems. If they had found the Mala'kak ruins. Then they were to be terminated - with extreme prejudice. They could not allow these aliens to get their hands on Engineer technology.

Though the Citadel aliens were not what concerned her the most. No, that would be reserved for something far more frightening - the creatures born from Engineer biotech. If one of those aliens had been infected with Black Liquid. Samantha shuddered at the thought.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as EDI walked in. Clad in a Titan Pilot Assault Uniform, sans helmet. Her blonde chin length hair hang loose as she walked up to the armory table, placing her helmet on it.

"EDI," Sam acknowledged. "When we reach LV223, we are the only ones going out. Some men will be on standby if we need backup."

"That would be unlikely, Captain." The android replied, strapping a black kukri knife to her right shin. She picked a smart pistol from one of the racks and gave it a brass check. EDI then picked a Kraber-AP Sniper Rifle and slung it over her shoulder.

"I'll be in the cockpit, Captain." Sam nodded as EDI picked several magazines and left.

The Captain chose her personal Python semi-automatic 45. Caliber pistol - it was a quite reliable 1911 style firearm. They were only going to do a quick recon. So she chose an M8 assault rifle.

The Tundra M8 Assault Rifle could best be described as a KRISS Vector mixed with an assault rifle. The size of a submachine gun, but the punch of an assault rifle. It had a fifty round magazine and was fitted with a silencer. Next she picked up two karambits, each curved till the points were at a ninety degree angle.

As she spread her weapons out in front of her, she turned around and headed for the lockers. She stripped down to nothing and chose a titan pilot sniper uniform. The tight fitting suit and hood did - unbeknownst to her - make her resemble a quarian.

Unlike the baggy male uniforms, the female variants were quite tight-fitting and Sam had long since decided that for ultimate comfort and mobility. You had to be naked when wearing it. She slid into the bodysuit and zipped it up. She decided not to don the multi-lens helmet yet, as they had not made it to LV-223.

Samantha slotted both karambits into their holsters on her hips and let the other weapons lie ready for their arrival. She picked up her helmet and walked to her own quarters. Her hood was down and she had set the uniform's adaptive camouflage to grey.

As she walked into the lifeboat doubling as her quarters, she fixed herself a glass of vodka and slid into one of the chairs surrounding the glass coffee table at the far end of the lifeboat. In front of the large curved television screen. The screensaver was currently a large barley field, fresh for harvest.

"Joker what's the ETA?"

"Thirty minutes, Captain. We have to rely on our subspace drive, we wouldn't want to give our illegal aliens a surprise. Do we?"

"No we do not, joker," Sam smiled, she unclipped her knives and placed them on the coffee table. "Alert me ten minutes before arrival."

"Will do, Captain."

She waved her hand and music by the all-female rock band Protecting My Society or PMS blasted through Sam's living quarters. PMS was one of the most iconic bands in human space and quite influential when it came to social order. They were one of the biggest critics of the tightening security of the UCN and United Systems, as well as the growing influence of megacorporations.

Famous, or infamous, one thing was certain. They were dangerous and taking a stance against them would mean taking on a horde of loyal and angry rebellious fans. Ranging from regular teenagers to hardened criminals and veteran mercenaries.

Sam waved her hand again, turning off the screensaver and put on a video recording of a burlesque performance by the women of La Veuve Noire. She had made many a visit to that particular club in Métropole, France. That city was a hotspot for all layers of society, good, bad, ugly. Didn't matter, Métropole was glamorous.

The burlesque club was led by Marie Leon, who happens to be the mother of Rose, PMS' keyboardist. She is also the largest fashion icon in the galaxy and leader of her personal group of female assassins. Who also double as burlesque dancers. Sam had spent a year with the women of La Veuve Noire, to be trained in both the art of killing and seduction. It was an experience she would never forget.

Maybe the tightened security in the World was simply to create an illusion. To hide how batshit insane it could be. Gun wielding girl bands, dangerous mercenary groups consisting of gorgeous scantily clad orphaned women led by a loving wife and husband, a burlesque assassins guild led by a renowned fashion icon, killer robots, animal-human hybrids who would love to tear the flesh from your bones, super soldiers causing all kinds of mayhem across the galaxy, intelligent aliens seeking to unite it and now last but not least - feature length motion pictures starring cats.

The galaxy sure is a crazy place and Samantha Fisher loved it. Reveled in it. The world was chaos, it was war, it was death, it was joy and life and pleasure. She is artist and her art - is death.

Sam emptied her glass, her eyes transfixed on the dancers on the screen. She checked the time, twenty five minutes. She bit her lower lip. Hand moving towards the zipper of her combat suit.

"Fuck it. I got time," Sam mumbled and spoke over the comms. "Kelly could you come to my quarters, please...and bring Traynor!"


For those in doubt of what tone this story will have, then I'll tell you. It will be serious in some parts and humorous in others, as more elements from Last Man Standing will appear. Like animal-human hybrids and scantily clad female assassins.

Seriously look it up. Dan Luvisi is crazy.