Author's Comment: As you must notice, I post one chapter a day, not counting weekends, but this time, I wasn't able to post the 10th on time. University work caught up with me, and I was too tired to finish this chapter by the time I was done. So today, I am going to try and post two chapters, as a means of keeping up with the self applied schedule.

As always, read, and enjoy.

Chapter Ten: The meeting

Anna walked out of the War Room, and quickly headed to the bridge, pulling Liara along with her. As the asari and the human walked towards the bridge, Garrus headed down to the main battery chamber. The bridge door opened, and Anna was quick to explain her plan. "Liara, EDI, you got a new assignment. Try and track down Harbinger, somehow. I do not know a damn thing, but if anyone here can run an intelligence agency is you two."

Liara and EDI were quick to thank Shepard for the trust placed, and didn't waste time going to Liara's room to start thinking on how to find Harbinger. Anna asked Joker to fly them to the Earth, in order to pick up Ashley.

"Hey, Commander..."

Anna turns around to face Joker. "What is it, Joker?"

"Next time we are in the Citadel, we should go to casino in the Silversun Strip. Ever since you backed me up on my bullshit story, about beating a bunch of Cerberus when using one of their Atlas mechs, well... let's just say that I have gotten used to the perks of free drinks..."

Anna can't help but laugh a little. "That would be a fun idea, but we would have to be careful. Last thing I would want is you get drunk and fly the Normandy."

She then heads to her private station next to the Galaxy Map; Traynor looks to the side and hesitates. "Uh, Commander..."

"Yes, Traynor, what is it?"

"I, uh... the Dalatrass wants to speak to you..."

For a split second, Shepard thought of just berating the Dalatrass upon her appearance in the vidcom room, but after that split second, her mind jumped to another idea, which required the help of Kips. She walked away of the terminal, and entered the laboratory, which was a version of Mordin's old work place, but tucked away in the middle of the CIC floor. Just behind the terminal, the door to it stood, and she got in the curved hallway, to the right of which was the lab space.

"Hey there, Kips. How is research coming along?"

"Very well, I am still a long way of reaching my desired goal, but progress has been truly good so far. The Geth Xen has helped me with extensive data in Quarian physiology; can't thank him enough. Is there something you need?"

"Yes. EDI, are you listening?"

The AI replied. "I am aware of every chamber within the ship, Commander. What do you need?"

"I need you and Kips to hack into the Salarian network as soon as the Dalatrass connects herself to us to converse. Perhaps they have information on the whereabouts of the Reapers."

Kips nods. "Might be difficult, but still can be performed. I will work from my terminal as soon as you give out the order."

Anna nodded. "EDI, help Kips at the extent of your abilities. I am going to the War Room now."

Shepard walked out of the lab, thanking Traynor on the way for informing her, and as soon as she reaches the security checkpoint, she sighs. "I have to ask Hackett when I can get rid of this." She passes through the circular room that was already familiar to her own feet, and enters the vidcom room, where she establishes the connection.

Suddenly, a Salarian, bearing clothing like that of Dalatrass Linron, appears, but this was not her, as the clothes and skin tone were different.

"Dalatrass Linron?" Shepard asked, staring in confusion at the person in front of her.

"No, this is Dalatrass Verina. After Linron's actions with STG personnel on Tuchanka, our society called in an ancient law that allowed us to remove Linron from power. I was the person elected."

Shepard exhaled, relaxed. "I am grateful to hear that. Linron was a pain in the... excuse me."

"No, it is alright, Commander. We are aware of her behaviour and the consequences of it. I am here, though, to let you know that, as long as I am in charge, you will have full Salarian support."

"Thank you. While we are here, is there any information you can disclose on the location of the Reapers?"

"I can. But can you wait a moment?"

Anna nods, and Verina steps out of the transmitter, leaving Shepard to wait for her return. A couple minutes later, she returns.

"I sent a team to establish communications with one of the Reapers aiding in the rebuilding efforts, to see if we can find out anything. It would be pointless to stand here and wait, so I will forward a message with the information received as soon as I can. Have a good, Commander."

Anna nods with a smile, and was about to leave, when Verina coughed. "And one more thing: thank you for saving us all."

"It is all part of the job. I wouldn't like to have anyone else doing my own work."

The Dalatrass disconnected, and EDI was quick to notify Shepard. "The little time spent in their network wielded no results, Commander."

Anna sighed. "Well, it was a long shot, anyway..."

"Also, you might want to access your private terminal right now. I will forward the material of interest for you."

Anna passes by the checkpoint, waving away the requests to stand still for the procedure, tired of repeating this nearly ten times a day. Stepping towards the private terminal, the ANN channel begins to broadcast, with a random reporter speaking. "Thank God it is not Khalisah al-Jilani..." Traynor can't help to chuckle at this remark.

Suddenly, the silence in the area sets in, as everyone listens to the news, which quickly become about Commander Shepard. "And in other news, Commander Anna Shepard, responsible for unifying and mobilizing large scale military strength of the galaxy, and supposed saviour of the same, has already left Huerta Memorial Hospital. Rumours state that she was brought to active duty again, and is currently searching for Harbinger, whom was reported to requesting her presence, after the end of the war. As of this time, her whereabouts are unknown, but we will keep you posted. This was Gabriella Branson, with Alliance News Network."

Everyone stares at Shepard, and she can't help but laugh. "With reporters like these, why do we have intelligence services and spies? We should let them do the snooping around for us." Many in the CIC laugh or chuckle. "Took them only two days to bypass the security at Huerta and find out I am gone. Thank God, too. If they were any quicker, I would probably have al-Jilani waiting for me at the entrance..."

Traynor looks at Anna, with an inquisitive expression. "Didn't you punch her before?"

"Why do you think I would want her to meet me face to face again? Last thing I remember, I didn't bring the punching bag from my apartment in the Citadel." Traynor grinned, as Shepard decided to make her way down to the Crew Deck. Upon stepping out of the elevator, she finds Garrus and a few crew members sitting down, listening to Kier talk, all while Aniena is preparing an asari meal for herself and Liara, at the same time she teaches Tali how to cook dextro meals.

"At that time, anyone with an opinion like mine would have died..." Kier said, lowering his hands and leaning on the table.

"But isn't that the case now?" Garrus intervened, staring at Kier.

The krogan shook his head. "No. Now, things are changing, more and more krogan realize their need to change, to adapt to a new way of life, even if it costs them traditions. Back in the days of the krogan rebellions, almost every single krogan had an expansionist mindset, barely any of us saw what the future could hold if we didn't change our behaviour."

"So you were aware something like the genophage could happen?" A crew member said, stroking her short red hair backwards, behind her ear.

Kier lifted himself into a fully erect position. "Not for certain, but at the time, I knew the salarians were a lot smarter than we gave them credit for, and if anyone could devise something clever to stop us, it would be them. We kept fighting and expanding, and the Warlord of my own clan nominated me as his successor should things go bad... and they did. He died the next day by a cannon shot, and I took up his hammer, and led the men to battle. So much blood
was spilled that day... then came the day where the genophage was unleashed... for a while I was enraged at the turians and the salarians, but then I remembered..." Kier's tone becomes grim. "We brought that curse upon ourselves."

"How come you are a legend of the krogan rebellions?"

Kier scratched the side of his head. "Well, my men moved much more efficiently and did a few better battles under my leadership, then any krogan could have done under anyone's rule... but it is also due to the fact that there are few veterans from that time. Okeer was one and he is dead. The story of the event exists in records, I am sure, but to be told from memory, there are few that can do that in our day. I think what added to the fact of being called a legend is the fact of being assumed as dead for two centuries."

Garrus looks over to Shepard, that was listening to the story, leading my gazes to fall upon her, and can't help but make a remark. "Yeah, coming back from the dead as a way to boost your reputation."

Kier then looks at Shepard and laughs, understanding the joke. "Hey there, Shepard. We were just trading old war stories. I am still surprised at the fact that Garrus here was Archangel." The Warlord looks over at Garrus. "The headaches you gave to the mercenary clans on Omega were worthy of battle songs."

Garrus nods, thanking Kier for the praise, whom was then curious as to how Shepard came back from the dead. Anna was quick to explain. "I was attacked by the Collectors, whom I assume you know already who they are. After a lot of back and forth, secret operations and whatnot, too much for me to want to explain, Liara helped Cerberus retrieve my body, something I still thank her for this day, since Cerberus is the organization that spent countless resources rebuilding me."

Kier begins to laugh out loud. "And now, as a form of thanks, you shoot any of their operatives dead... unless they are defectors."

Anna nods, also amused. "Seems like a fair trade. They helped me return to life, putting me in the lines of fire of the Collectors, and now I do the same for them. But instead of someone else's, I like to use my own line of fire; saves me a lot of time."

Suddenly, EDI's voice is heard in the room. "Commander, the Dalatrass forwarded the information she could. There is a main concentration of forces in the star system of 2181 Despoina, and there are suspicions of Harbinger being there." Everyone looks at Anna and she exhales roughly, trying to relax herself.

"Alright, we have to engage in friendly discussions with a Reaper... this is going to be one for the history books. Joker, how close are we to Earth? We might just cancel that order and head straight to Sigurd's Cradle and be done with it."

"Roger that Commander, aborting the current flight path. We can be in Despoina in a few hours. You better kill your own time."

Anna already had an idea of what to do. She requested for Aniena, Liara and Tali to join her at the same time in her room as soon as possible. After half an hour, the three walked in and sat down. Liara was the first to speak. "So what is it that you wanted to tell us, Shepard?"

Anna exhaled and smiled, rubbing the top of her thighs due to her nervousness. "Garrus asked me the other day to marry him..."

The other three women were astonished for a brief moment before they began to shower Anna with congratulations, and ideas of how the wedding should take place. But Anna was quick to make one point certain: she was going to receive Garrus' facial markings upon the wedding, as they had discussed before.