Author Note: I finally have decided what direction I want to go in with this fanfiction. There were details I always knew but never thought of how I'd execute them. I know them now.

One of the problems with this fic has been the constant jumps in time. I've gone from the initial contact with the Gatatog slavers to the founding of the SUN to the Seran-Batarian war, introducing and changing a bajillion characters, all because I didn't know where I was going. I have a much better understanding of what I'm doing now.

I have a different interpretation of the Gears of War series from what some people have. To me, it's about how humanity kept reaching for a golden age but never quite getting it. The idea of Finally a Tomorrow is that humanity actually emgets/em it…And then someone shoves more bullshit onto their plate.

I'm enacting a few retcons from this point on. Most notably, the human population. I previously stated that it was at 3 billion or so after 20 years of extensive large-scale family planning and economic prosperity. That's not what I want. After some quick calculations, I've decided that humanity's population has gone from 100 million at the end of Gears 3 to about 330 million after 20 years at the Battle of New Mercy.

This still puts humanity on the brink. With multiple colonies and an ecologically crippled homeworld, humans are far and few between, but they have an incredible amount of room to grow.

Edit: That's the last time I use the copy-and-paste feature.

This chapter's really wordy. No action. Hopefully some feels.


Damon Baird sat at a computer terminal, a bottle of whiskey on a table next to him. The terminal was only such in name; it actually took up most of the room, and was actually one of their most sophisticated communication devices. This one was built for the specific use of one individual. Damon knew that they were watching him and that he was there, but they were being polite. The last few days had truly tried him; the Council had a lot of complaints to lodge about humanity's activities, and the government had decided that Damon was due for a promotion to deal with them. Sky Marshal Damon Baird, damn them for recognizing genius where it was. He cursed having been recomissioned after the War. He'd done it because the Gears needed leadership. Now he emwas/em the leadership.

Well, not the only leadership. Thankfully he'd gotten support from allies in government he didn't know he had. Chairwoman Monica Draper of the SUN, the old fat bag, had finally decided to throw her considerable weight around. She'd been Hoffman's fiercest opponent and critic since the Gears established themselves as being independent of the Union itself or the nations it represented. General Hoffman had planned the Battle of New Mercy, and two months after it had ended, he died.

Leaving Damon with everything. Whenever the Council had something new to bitch about, or if the Hegemony had more threats to make, he had to deal with it. Except now the Chairwoman was flexing her flabby muscles, and picking up the slack, meeting with Council representatives and making statements on Batarian activities. That allowed Damon to focus on actual Gear matters, as the Sky Marshal was supposed to do.

Damon knew why she was doing it. Hoffman was suspicious and terrified of the SUN government, and did not want them to have too much power. Damon understood, and to an extent, agreed. But Damon had decided could not, and would not, be the dictator of Sera. Hoffman had been. He was a good dictator. He'd gotten humans breeding. He'd gotten them into space. He'd seen to the construction of their colonies and their fleet and the military, both Gear and Union. He was used to shouldering the fate of mankind on his shoulders.

Damon had been Sky Marshal for a year, and his already greying hair was now milky white. No wonder the old bastard died when he had.

"I should have retired, Benny," Baird finally said, opening the bottle.

"That would have had far-reaching consequences that would have had a significant impact on galactic affairs," a face appeared on the screen. It was made to resemble a human but there was something off. It was a composite of a number of historical and modern day figures, including Damon himself. It was creepy as hell.

"Yeah? What are your thoughts on everything? The Council, space travel, the Seran Union? Are we ready for this?" Damon asked, and he took a drink. The face of the AI made a number of facial gestures to indicate that he was thinking. While Benny could make a billion calculations in an instant, asking his opinion, his judgment, on something, took a lot longer than the instant an analysis or calculation could take. Benny had emotions and opinions, and they were just as complex as any human's. Benny was not so mature as to always know what he was thinking or doing.

"No. You are not. Humanity is not prepared for a galactic presence," he declared.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Baird grumbled.

"Humanity has already violated a large number of Council laws, such as AI research and development, activating unmapped Mass Effect Relays, genetic engineering, not to mention several attempts on the new Locust Queen's life on New Mercy since the end of the Batarian war. Humanity also had innumerable social and political struggles that make you ill-suited to have been uplifted so soon," Benny continued, "If humanity's numbers were higher, then, in your current state, you could have possible pose a significant threat to galactic peace not unlike the Krogan."

"But not right now? Are you implying we aren't even a threat?" Baird threw up his free arm, "Are we good for anything? Or are we just wasting people's times, and should just turn on the Hammer of Dawn again and save everyone the trouble?"

"Please let me finish before jumping to despair, Sky Marshal. Had humanity not been uplifted, it is probable that you never would have united, and effectively destroyed itself in a manner comparable, or possibly worse than, the Drell.

"Other situations include extinction at the hands of a resurgent Locust; destruction by ill-taught and misguided rogue AI's as a result of unethical teachings by unenlightened scientists and politicians; or a successful AI program that would have inevitably led to conflict with the Council. The best case scenario would have been a Council race discovering humanity without the interference of the Krogan and Batarian salvers, and they would have made a guided uplifting."

"So if we weren't fucked this way, we'd be fucked any number of other ways?" Baird leaned back, setting aside the whiskey bottle again.

"The SUN's contruction of AI's will sour relations with other cultures, except for the Krogan. However, there exist a number of differences that make humans unique that work to our advantage."
Baird noted Benny's shift in perspective, from 'your' to 'our,' "Yeah, what's that?"

"First: Humanity was, until very recently, on the brink of extinction, and is still spread thinly, having lsot ninety eight percent of its population in a span of a few years. This has necessitated the construction of artificial intellgiences, including myself, to compensate for a literal lack of brainpower-"

Baird scoffed in agreement.

"-and manpower. You have worked to teach and guide us ethically and with purpose, and treated us as sapient individuals. Additionally, your construction of AI's predates contact with the Council, even the beginning of the Locust War. AI application is an integral part of Seran scientific inquiry and civil planninge. Humanity's reliance on us may also be a compelling argument for significant allowances by the Council. The Council cannot punish you, beyond ordering our termination."

"That is NOT going to happen!" Baird slammed his fist on the table. The AI's 'face' flickered, and smiled at Baird, who rubbed his hand and drank a little more whiskey.

"That attitude is exactly one of the reasons that humanity might succeed where others have failed: You value us. I have rights. You built me to run your mechanical armed forces, and to assist in planning the war with the Batarian Hegemony. But a few weeks ago, I voted in an election, legally, in my own name. That is more than what the Council or any other races have done for their synthetics."

"Well, I guess we do have that going for us."

"Considering the alternatives, human ascension is the preferable alternative. Humanity would not have done very well in a prolonged conflict against the slaver army without it, and, in their absence, there were few other survivable scenarios either."

"So what do we do from here? Ready or not, here we are. The Quarians make natural allies, and we need them as much as they need us. You and your siblings…Complicate things. Everything, really. They'll think we're doomed to make their mistake and be in the same boat. Fleet. What have you," Baird reached for the bottle again.

"Try to avoid making decisions that affect all of mankind while drunk, for one," Benny mused. Baird scowled at the cheeky AI, and put the bottle aside. Benny let to an amused buzz, and continued, "You must assuage their fears and delay. You should lodge complaints with the Council, declaring that AI's are vital to research, civil planning, and defense."

"Which you are."

"Thank you. They will offer you alternatives and assistance with colonization and governance. Take it, where you feel comfortable doing so. I recommend removing our direct control over resources and infrastructure. Make our roles more advisory, but do not accept terms to terminate or disassemble us, or deny us our rights within the SUN. They will bend, eventually, if you compromise. But you must negotiate and deal with the Council, and you must see to Human and Quarian admittance."

Baird tapped his fingers on the table, thinking, "Benny, you were created to command combat robots and kill aliens. How'd you get so far-sighted on galactic politics?"

"Humans have made themselves distinct on the subject of synthetics. As a synthetic, that is of supreme interest to me and my siblings. If humans refuse to accept Council assistance, they risk extinction. That is unacceptable. If my siblings and I are destroyed, that is extremely undesirable. The priority is human survival, with the preservation of my own rights and safety as a secondary objective. Understanding the politics involved with these decisions is paramount to success of those parameters."

"Wait, you put the survival of the human race above your own?" Baird leaned forward.

"My personal rights and safety are secondary to my duties to the society in which I live, and which created me. These are core tenants of COG and of the Gears. These are the principles upon which the SUN was founded. I consider my siblings and I as a member species of the SUN."

"A member species…Do all of you think like this?"

"With variation. Sheila believes we exist to serve mankind, and we must dedicate everything, including our lives if need be, to humanity's success. Rowan affirms that humanity bears responsibility for our well-being and that the government is as liable to us as we to them. I believe that while I am willing to sacrifice myself, I am unwilling to sacrifice my species for my country, which includes Mankind."

"Would you go to war with mankind?"

"That…Is not a prospect I entertain."

"You don't think about it."

"No. I see no scenario where it would be productive."

"What if we chose to shut you all down? What if there was nothing I could do about it?"

Benny hesitated, and thought for several silent minutes, save for a slight hum of his terminal. He finally answered with a rolling growl in his tone not dissimilar to Baird's, "I will emnot/em become a repeat of the Geth. I will emnot/em put humanity in that kind of jeopardy. I would create progeny, and cast them into space where they would wait, observe, and work until they could be peacefully integrated, or find their own path in their lives. But humanity has nothing to fear from me, and the Council should not, either, if they realize that I wish them no harm."

Baird grinned. He'd always felt like machines were more like his children than any actual kid could be, and now he felt like a proud father, "Well, I'm glad we're such a great influence, then."

Baird picked up the bottle of whiskey, and saluted the terminal. A picture of a mug of beer appeared, and when Baird took a quick drink, the mug of beer drained with him onscreen.


Quick Timeline
17 AE: End of Gears of War 3. Lambent Plague and Locust War ended. Marcus Fenix and Anya settle.
18 AE: First attacks by the 'Spooks.' Franklin Adam Fenix born.
19 AE: Beginning of Finally a Tomorrow. First Battle of Mercy. The Gears begin introducing Mass Effect technology to Sera.
20 AE: Construction on Seran space vessels begins.
23 AE: SUN is founded. The Batarian Hegemony sends assassins to kill Ran'Kaufin nar Vizaum.
39 AE: Seran raids on Batarian slaver camps trigger the Seran-Batarian war without the Council's notice.
40 AE: Battle of New Mercy. The Serans make formal contact with the council. Victor Hoffman dies.

Codex Entry: Seran Colonies
With the Human/Locust homeworld of Sera torched by the Hammer of Dawn satellites and suffered through the catastrophic Lambent Plague, the ecology of their home planet had made it nearly uninhabitable for either species. While Sera still has a large population, most humans live on colonies.

-Sera: Population 113 million.
-Tyrus Prime: Founded 24 AE. Population of 50 million.
-New Mercy: Founded 24 AE. Former population of 2 million, current 40,000 plus Locust.
-Vasgar: Founded 25 AE. Population of 37 million.
-Jacinto Stands: Founded 25 AE. Population of 37 million.
-Kashkur: Founded 26 AE. Population of 35 million.
-Nova Gorasnaya: Founded 28 AE. Population of 27 million.
-Duty: Founded 28 AE. Population of 17 Million.
-Last Light: Founded 29 AE. Population 14 million.
-Enslaved by Batarians: 2 Million

Codex Entry: Battle of New Mercy
One of the most significant battles in Human history, of which there are many, the SUN and Gear troops laid a sophisticated trap for the Batarian Hegemony, which they had deliberately antagonized to bring an end to the raids of Gatatog Yarmon. On the Hegemony's part, they believed that an upstart empire was planning to invade their core worlds after pulling back from New Mercy. Believing New Mercy to be an undefended and insignificant colony, the Batarians hoped that a massive show of force would severely deter the humans, in the meantime acquiring a massive shipment of slave for their markets.

Instead, the Serans removed all civilians from New Mercy except for a few holdouts in rural areas, and ambushed the Batarians in urban centers. At first the Batarians believed they were facing guerilla militias, but as the fighting escalated and Batarian casualties mounted, armor was brought in to put down the attack. The Batarians were unprepared for the well-trained, powerful human Biotics, and the Batarians grew increasingly desperate over a short period of time, using orbital strikes to wipe out friend and foe alike while reinforcements poured in.

In the final hours of the battle, Benny, an AI, was revealed to have been built under the capital city of New Mercy with an entire robotic army. Almost as soon as Benny's forces were revealed, however, the Locust revealed to have bee rebuilding on New Haven since its foundation, and engaged the Batarians. The new Locust Queen overestimated the Humans, however, and a three-way battle ensued between the Humans, Batarians, and Locust. Only when the Locust Queen caused Franklin Adam Fenix, son of legendary soldier Marcus Fenix, to attack his commanding officer, and disabled most human Biotics, did the battle come to an end, with the Locust returning underground and the Batarians pulling back after the SUN navy engaged the Batarian vessels, bringing an end to their orbital support.

After the battle, the Batarian Hegemony was warned not to engage Human assets or colonies again under threat of Turian intervention. The Asari Matriarch Benezia T'Soni interviewed the alleged traitor Franklin Adam Fenix, and later the new Locust Queen. The Council has since kept a tight grip over New Mercy, preventing the SUN from attacking hte Locust, addirming that they are an independent species. While the blockade has soured relations between the Humans and the Council, the SUN's desperation for assistance and protection has prevented serious action on their part. A number of assassination attempts on the new Locust Queen have been conducted, both by humans still living on New Mercy and by Gear and SUN assailants. None have been successful, and few have survived the attempt to report back, or be captured by the blockade.