Days later, in the Normandy's cockpit…
EDI: Jeff, calm down. You're starting to make me nervous.
Joker: I'm trying! They should be here already. What if something happened to them?
Garrus: Again? Nah, the Commander just wants us to have to ask him twice.
James: I'm glad Liara returns too. And Javik, I didn't thought he was going to come back.
Ashley: Of course they were going to come back. -Joking- Liara won't give up a cabin almost as large as Shepard's…
Tali: And she is not going to let Javik run away. Weren't they going to write a book?
Cortez: -Looking outside- Eh! There they are!
They all run to the corridor. After the decontamination process the inner hatch of the Normandy opens and they come in.
EDI: Welcome aboard. -The three smile-.
Shepard: -Kidding- Eh, Joker, I've heard we almost lose another Normandy.
Joker: How they like to exaggerate!
Ashley: We've taken good care of the ship, Skipper, and we all are ready to set out.
Shepard: Thanks, to everyone. James, Hackett told me your decision, are you sure?
James: Absolutely. Working with a N7 squad until the training program is restored is very tempting, but I already have a place here, with you. So… I'll accompany you for a while. -On purpose- Besides, somebody will have to make up for Garrus' lack of accuracy.
Garrus: Lack of accuracy? Me? You must be kidding…
Tali: Can't you stop it? Keelah…
Ashley: What are the orders?
Joker: I hope it's not another "routine mission"…
Javik: Is saving the galaxy a "routine mission" in your cycle? Hmm… You primitives don't stop amazing me.
Shepard: The Admiral still has to give me the details of the mission. We all see in the war chamber in one hour. That's all for now.
Shepard, EDI and Joker go to the cockpit while the others leave.
Joker: It's great to have you back.
EDI: This wouldn't be the same without you.
Shepard: I'm very glad to have you all again in the Normandy. And also that Liara can come with us.
Joker: She's a great person. -Sincere- I've always seen you happier when she was there.
EDI: It's true, your biometric record confirms an increase of endorphins in her presence.
Joker: -Sarcastically- Yeah, that has sounded much more magic… -Shepard does not know what to say- What EDI means is…
EDI: -She finds the right words- That there are not many people like her. You're very lucky to have found each other.
Joker: Well, I guess you have questions about what has happened in your absence.
Shepard: Yes, I could hardly speak with Hackett about it.
EDI: Where do we start?
Joker: You'd better take a sit, Spectre…
Later, in the communications room.
Shepard: Sir.
Hackett: The situation is critical, Commander. Two days ago the yahg caught the salarians unawares and invaded Sur'kesh, all the information gathered by Cerberus about their defenses has given them an edge. The fleet which confronted the Third is nothing compared to the one blocking the planet, but now we already have enough ships to break the siege.
Shepard: Can we count on the salarian navy?
Hackett: Fortunately. Their fleet recovered and holds the relay of Pranas, when we get there they will join the bulk of our offensive. Dalatrass Linron assures they have the key to stop them, they'll explain us the plan when we get there.
Shepard: What do we know about the enemy?
Hackett: We believe their leader was one of the captive yahg on Sur'kesh, the one who escaped during Cerberus' assault. The salarians never found him, and with the reaper invasion as priority they considered it unimportant…
Shepard: So he got hold of a ship, returned to Parnack and while we were fighting against the machines he became the leader of his species.
Hackett: Exactly. And knowing that Cerberus had numerous patrols all over the galaxy it's not surprising the yahg, after the defeat of the reapers, found some of those drifting ships. Later, through its records they wouldn't take long to find the rest of the fleet…
Shepard: They haven't wasted time.
Hackett: They are a big threat, Commander, we need to stop them at once. We're not in a good position for another galactic scale war… Hackett out.
Shepard leaves the room. His companions arrive at the reformed war chamber and place around the holographic projector.
Shepard: Joker, it's the time.
Joker: -From the cockpit- Supplies loaded, all systems online, starting engines. Disengaging from the hangar. Route plotted.
Everyone is ready.
Shepard: We've saved the galaxy, but our victory won't last much if we fail now. -Shepard looks at his team members one by one while he is talking- They know we're vulnerable, with our forces decimated and scattered, and they want to take advantage of the situation. The yahg may not be as dangerous as the reapers, but we mustn't underestimate them. -Traynor activates the images sent by Hackett-.
Ashley: -Talking to herself- Protectors of galactic peace, both first and last line of defense…
From the cockpit Joker sees how several frigates pass the Normandy.
Shepard: I know we will do it well. After what we've already achieved we won't let them down. We've come very far, but our journey doesn't end here. -The ship flies next to Hackett's dreadnought- We still have a lot to live together.
Joker: -The Normandy reaches its position in the formation and stops- The fleet is ready. One minute for jump.
Shepard: We don't know why they have invaded Sur'kesh, but a large scale attack such as this indicates they are looking for something really important. Something for what is worth risking their resources to get it.
Ashley: It's hard to believe that a species new in spaceflights has managed to overwhelm them on their own homeworld…
James: They've got almost all Cerberus' arsenal… and with upgrades…
Liara: Something tells me that's nothing but the tip of the iceberg…
Tali: And to think that now the reapers have vanished they come to conquer the galaxy…
Shepard: We won't let them. Their invasion begins and ends here.
Garrus: Heroes never rest…
The Normandy is promoted by the relay at FTL speed with the rest of the Council fleet, leaving Athena Nebula behind, course to its destination.
The end