"Shepard, we've arrived in the Pranas System." EDI reported over the intercom in Shepard's quarters.

Shepard was lying face down and moaned annoyed into the pillow when EDI's synthetic voice rang out. He turned his head slightly and watched the clock on the nightstand. He'd slept for five hours since he got back to bed but it actually felt like only ten minutes since he said goodbye to Garrus at the elevator. Next to him he felt Miranda stir.

"Uhm, yes thanks EDI." Shepard blurted out tiredly as he turned his head back into the pillow.

"The salarian diplomatic ships have hailed us." EDI continued.

"Good for them." Shepard mumbled.

"They're ready for the summit."

Shepard groaned, "Don't tell me the krogan are here already."

"No Shepard, they're still an hour and 15 minutes away."

"Fine. Thank you." At least I can wake up properly and have some breakfast before official duties.

"Of course Shepard." EDI said and disappeared.

"I think she woke us on purpose." Miranda said drowsily and rolled to her said to face Shepard.

"Wouldn't surprise me. You never know with unshackled AI." Shepard said as he turned to his side and snuck an arm over Miranda's body and pulled her close for a kiss.

"Damn Joker." Miranda said with a grin after they parted.

"Talking about other men in bed makes me jealous." Shepard said with feigned annoyance as he snuggled closer to Miranda and began kissing her jawline and neck.

"Oh, what are you going to do? Punish me?" Miranda countered as she rolled onto her back and moved her head back a bit to expose her neck, enjoying his soft lips on her skin. Her breathing deepened while she explored his neck and back with her hands.

"You know I will. I was denied last night but now I have you exactly were I want you. Naked and on your back." Shepard said in between kisses as he trailed down her neck and one of his hands roamed her body.

"Hmm...no you don't." Miranda said tongue-in-cheek as her biotics flared up and she sent a very small biotic shock into the side of his abdomen from one of her fingers.

Shepard coiled back a bit from Miranda and looked at her surprised, "Ow! What the-?"

Miranda regained control over her senses and breathing, "As inviting as that sounds, we have business to attend to." Miranda slid out of the bed.

Shepard turned on his back admiring the view of her naked body and said cheekily, "You know I'm a better Marine if I get some in the morning. I feel lighter on my feet."

Miranda turned to face him and giggled, "You are so cute when you are begging, John."

"You are evil, woman." Shepard sighed dejected and shook his head.

Miranda, noticing his reaction didn't want to leave him in doubt, leaned over the bed and kissed Shepard passionately in which he moaned in return. But her actions could very well have made things worse for her lover as he certainly craved more than a just a kiss.

"Business before pleasure John," Miranda said and pulled back a bit and tapped her finger on his wet lips while she gave him a wink, "Later." She turned and walked away from the bed.

"Where are you going?" Shepard asked perplexed.

"A shower." Miranda responded casually and turned to face him.

Shepard smirked and was about to quickly get out of bed when Miranda raised a warning finger as she could see his intentions in his eyes. Miranda grinned mischievously, "I can manipulate stasis fields, John."

"God, you are such a tease." Shepard sighed in defeat.

Miranda didn't say anything and merely smirked at him and turned to walk up the stairs, swaying her hips for him.

Shepard groaned, "That's not fair Miranda." and fell back into the bed, "I'm gonna need a cold shower after this."

"I won't be long." He heard Miranda say playfully from the top of the stairs when she disappeared towards the bathroom.

After a quick breakfast the Normandy was being readied for the diplomatic mission. Victus would attend, negotiating for the turian hierarchy, while Shepard was there as a representative for Earth with extraordinary diplomatic powers from Admiral Hackett to do what was needed to get support to build an alliance and counter the Reapers across the galaxy. The diplomatic ships of the krogan and salarians were floating far away from one other. Victus had been coordinating the rendezvous of the ships and the negotiators had all agreed to dock with the Normandy in a quick and timely fashion.

First to dock with the Normandy was the salarian vessel, both Shepard and Victus was waiting on the salarian Dalatrass outside the airlock. Shepard was once again wearing his uniform as he saw it more fitting for a summit of this kind then any BDU. The airlock slid open with a hiss and Dalatrass Linron stepped through. All parties had agreed on arriving on the Normandy unarmed and with no escort, this would hopefully ease the tensions between the salarians and the krogan.

Linron was an ageing salarian, coming from one of the wealthiest bloodlines of Sur'Kesh, often described as the 'queen bee' of that particular bloodline. She was calculated and politically savvy. Having won the election by a narrow margin earlier in the year, her leadership was fairly disputed by her rival, Dalatrass Narra. Linron was dressed in dark robes and her head and horns covered by a hood.

"Commander Shepard." The Dalatrass greeted cordially.

"Madame." Shepard said with a smile, playing the part of a diplomat. Shepard hated with passion dealing with most politicians, but he knew it was necessary. Shepard gestured towards the turian next to him, "This is Primarch Victus."

The two shook hands.

"I'm sorry to hear about Fedorian." Linron said. "He was a great man; I had spoken to him on many occasions in the past."

"Thank you." Victus said and gave the salarian a courteous nod.

From Shepard's right Joker reported from the cockpit, "We have disconnected Commander, heading to the krogan ship. ETA 2 minutes."

"Right, carry on Lieutenant." Shepard said and turned back to the Dalatrass. "Primarch Victus is here to escort you to the Conference Room."

"Alright." Linron turned to the turian, "Shall we?"

"Of course." Victus gave Shepard a nod as he disappeared with the Dalatrass.

Shepard followed them with his eyes and he saw Miranda walking past them in the corridor and headed purposefully towards Shepard.

"Hey." Shepard greeted with a smile.

"Only your friend Urdnot Wrex left?" Miranda asked as she stopped next to Shepard.

"Yeah, we should be there in a few."

"Understood."

"So I'll leave the ship in your very capable hands when the summit starts."

"I'll take good care of her." Miranda said lighthearted. Miranda grinned and leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "I hope you have calmed down?"

Shepard chuckled lightly, "Yes I have. The cold shower did wonders for me."

"Good, you need to be focused during the negotiations." Miranda whispered with mirth in her eyes.

"No problem."

Joker interrupted from the cockpit, "Commander, we're closing up on the krogan ship. Initiating docking procedure." Joker swiped his hands over his interface rapidly, guiding the Normandy in closer towards the krogan diplomatic ship.

"Okay Joker." Shepard responded.

"I'll be on my way." Miranda said and leaned in for a quick kiss which Shepard reciprocated.

Shepard nodded when they parted and Miranda walked down the corridor back from where she came.

The Normandy floated graciously up next to the krogan ship and connected to the docking arm. Shepard waited patiently as their airlock was pressurized and decontaminated before the doors slid open and Urdnot Wrex in his red armor strolled through.

"Wrex." Shepard greeted with a friendly smile extending his hand.

"Shepard." Wrex grinned widely as he shook his friend's hand.

"Welcome aboard the SSV Normandy SR-2." Shepard said as they let go of each other's hands.

"Bigger than the old one." Wrex mused and looked around.

Joker stepped out of the cockpit and walked up, "Wrex, good to see you!"

"Joker, you still around?"

"You know it." The pilot responded excited.

Shepard shrugged and grinned, "He's got an unhealthy relationship with the ship."

Wrex chuckled throatily, "Didn't' he always?"

"Hey!" Joker exclaimed defensively, "It's a marvelous ship. Both this and the old one."

"I'll take your word for it." Wrex said and shook his head.

Shepard turned to Joker, "Disconnect and let's get out of here."

"Roger Commander." Joker said and turned to Wrex before he walked back into the cockpit. "It's good to see you again Wrex. The Normandy isn't the same without a huge krogan roaming the corridors."

Wrex laughed as he watched the pilot returning to his seat.

"This way Wrex." Shepard said and motioned with his arm for Wrex to follow him.

Let's hope this doesn't start another war.

The moment Shepard had brought Wrex into the Conference Room the temperature dropped to icy cold and it didn't take long until the Dalatrass and Wrex exchanged frosty glares. Shepard took place on the end of the table with Wrex on the long side of the table in front of Linron. Shepard looked at Victus on the other side of the table who looked increasingly tenser.

"Alright," Shepard said cautiously, wondering what exactly would happen. "Let's begin this summit-"

"I don't even know what I'm doing in the same room with a krogan," Linron interrupted ruefully before she shouted, "Just remember that you are in no position to make any demands here, krogan!"

Oh this is just great! Shepard shook his head, trying his best to suppress a sigh.

Wrex snorted angrily, "This krogan has a name; it's Urdnot Wrex. And the krogan people are not some disposable servants to be used to kill for the salarians and the turians!"

Linron shook her head and threw out her arms in exasperation.

Wrex took on a more foreboding and calmer demeanor, reflecting on his own situation, "And I have problems of my own. I'm getting reports of Reapers on Tuchanka."

"That's why we have to work together." Shepard tried to talk some sense into the increasingly volatile situation.

Wrex glanced at Victus, "So with that in mind, what does it matter to me if some turians and salarians are wiped out?"

Victus sighed tiredly, "We don't have time for stalling these talks Wrex. The war will affect everyone eventually so just tell us what you want and let's get over with it."

Wrex turned his attention to Linron who had crossed her arms angrily and narrowed her eyes on the krogan in front of her.

"Cure the genophage and we will fight with you against the Reapers." Wrex explained slowly, looking directly at the Dalatrass.

Linron's eyes shot up in surprise and she declared with a hard voice. "Never! That is unacceptable. You were a mistake and curing the solution will unleash the krogan horde on the galaxy again!"

Wrex slammed his fist into the table; creating small cracks in the material were his fist crashed down. Wrex spoke sternly with anger slipping through his voice, "We're not a mistake."

Shepard thought for a second that Wrex would leap over the table and hurl himself at the salarian but to his relief nothing happened.

Shepard cleared his throat and looked at Linron, "And why don't you want to cure the genophage, Dalatrass?"

"We uplifted them, the salarians will always have a special understanding of the krogan, and by keeping the krogan in check we will spare the galaxy of another krogan rebellion." Linron explained tensely.

Shepard tried not to clench his teeth to what he felt was an utterly arrogant statement that the salarians had an understanding of the krogan, instead Shepard remained neutral. His talks with Mordin the year before had opened his eyes even more to the plight of the krogan and felt that they didn't deserve that punishment anymore. Didn't they deserve a second chance? They could learn from the past. Or at least he hoped they could learn. With proper leadership the krogan could prosper and be a part of the galactic community. And if Wrex was in power and shepherded the krogan in the right direction they could become a very valuable part of the galactic community. But it was a lot of 'ifs,' Wrex may be noble, but could he restrain every krogan?

But they certainly needed the krogan horde fighting the Reapers, yet he did see a lingering threat if some krogan wanted revenge for the past. Things were not black and white.

"My ancestors were used by the salarians to fight a war that no one else could win!" Wrex retorted angrily. "The ones that won against the rachni weren't asari, salarians or turians. It was won by the krogan blood that was spilled. You used us and tossed us aside!"

Linron sneered and pointed directly at Wrex, "Because you ceased to be useful. The genophage is the only way to keep your blood thirsty and violent ways in check. You can't be trusted!"

Wrex narrowed his eyes in anger, glaring at the Dalatrass. Wanting nothing but to rip apart the lizard.

Victus broke the tension looking at Linron, "Dalatrass, You may not like Wrex but insulting him won't get you anywhere."

Linron snorted and waved off Victus, "I'm not apologizing to this brute for speaking the truth. The krogan was uplifted to do one thing and one thing only, run blind through the killing fields and kill the rachni."

"We're not getting anywhere by shouting at each other," Shepard began and tried to defuse the situation, "You are too focused on the future to pay attention to what's happening now, we won't have a future if we don't stop the Reapers. The success of the war relies on a unified galactic alliance; no one will be able to oppose the Reapers on their own. We need each other."

"It appears I'm the only one that cares about the future after the war, Commander." Linron said annoyed. "The krogan will certainly fight the Reapers but what will happen after the war? They will be left standing in great numbers and can overrun the other races."

Shepard spoke, remembering what Mordin had told him once, "Uplifting the krogan was like giving nuclear weapons to cavemen; of course it was to backfire. Your people miscalculated the entire situation."

"That's what I mean Commander." Linron surprisingly pleaded, "We didn't think matters through and look what happened. But during the Rachni War the situation was so dire that we turned to the krogan in desperation. We were running out of options."

"We are running out of options as well." Shepard asked rhetorically, "How long ago were the Rebellions? Ten years ago?" Shepard shook his head, "No, it was well over 1000 years ago and you are talking about it like it was yesterday."

Linron frowned, "Are you actually taking the krogan side? Then you are about to make the same mistake we did."

Shepard sighed, "Look, the war has us all under a lot of stress to protect our own interests and people. But we're all in this together; the Reapers will exterminate every single one of us."

"Yes, we're all in this together, I recognize that, Commander. But curing the genophage will put us all at harm. As it is now, their birth rates are being kept at a low level which in return doesn't threaten the rest of the galaxy as an explosion of newborn krogan would." Linron explained sternly.

"The krogan have paid for their mistakes by now. You don't think they've suffered long enough?"

"One thousand, four hundred and seventy-six years. If you are keeping track." Wrex stated.

Linron spat, waving her arm at Wrex, "And it has been peace all that time from these brutes!"

Victus interrupted tired of the bickering, "Enough! This is an academic question, it would take years, if not decades to cure the genophage."

Wrex turned to Victus, "No, that's not what my sources are telling me." The krogan walked over to Victus side of the table.

Sources? Shepard raised an eyebrow. The only one even close to curing the genophage was Maelon. We ended those sick experiments and Mordin took a copy of the cure with us. Either Wrex acquired that data or he's working with Mordin.

Wrex brusquely motioned for Victus to step aside from the end table which he did. Wrex turned on the computer that was situated there and then he brought up his omni-tool and pressed a few buttons to link them together and stream information.

"Shepard," EDI chimed in. "There are attempts made from the Conference Room to link our systems with an unidentified omni-tool."

"Let Wrex through." Shepard ordered.

"Of course." EDI paused for a few moments and reported, "It's done."

Wrex began talking as both his omni-tool and the computer began interfacing, "There was a salarian scientist on Tuchanka last year, he wanted to do some experiments on our females in order to begin crafting a cure for the genophage. He wanted my help but he wanted krogan subjects to experiment on so I declined."

"Those tests were barbaric." Shepard said and remembered the mission on Tuchanka.

The wall behind Wrex flickered to life as it projected information from his omni-tool. The others in attendance turned and watched the wall-projection coming to life.

The Dalatrass was wondering where this was going. She had supervised a mission to mop-up the mess on Tuchanka after the Special Tasks Group had learned of Maelon's attempt to cure the genophage. The krogan couldn't possibly know, right?

"He went to one of my rivaling clans instead. There were countless dead, both krogan females who volunteered...and humans kidnapped. But some krogan females survived the experiments." Wrex turned to face the wall.

Grainy film footage was displayed what looked like the inside of some facility. A salarian in a uniform walked by tinkering with his omni-tool and the footage began to move, it was apparent that it was someone holding a small camera inside a corridor leading into a large hall of some sort. The camera man walked onwards and ended in the middle of the hall near a holographic screen. The unknown camera man panned his camera and shot footage of several holding pods in front of him containing what looked like krogan.

As the footage was rolling, Wrex commented with a stern voice, "So after Shepard's actions against that clan, the Dalatrass sent a cleanup team to cover it all up and they found the females alive and the salarian team captured them."

Linron exclaimed in surprised anger, "Where did you get this?" Then she began to shout defensively, "This footage is faked by the krogan!" How did the brute know of this?

Wrex turned to face the Dalatrass and snarled back, "Do not insult me! Those are my people, they're immune to the genophage, and I want them returned! Alive."

For the first time the Dalatrass was taken aback and didn't respond. She began to look increasingly horrified as the seconds ticked by.

Victus stepped forward from behind Wrex and demanded, "Is this true Dalatrass?"

Linron protested, "How will curing the genophage benefit my people?"

Shepard spoke from the other end of the table, "If you don't put the past where it belongs there won't be a future left to worry about. You are making a similar mistake Cerberus is; the Illusive Man's actions are threatening our victory and survival, and so are yours."

Linron's head snapped to Shepard and she glared at him. "What? Do not compare the salarians to your human terrorists!"

"I'm not Dalatrass," Shepard explained calmly. "What you are doing is jeopardizing our survival which should be paramount. The war has barely started and the turians are losing Palaven and according to the Primarch, without the krogan they can't defend their homeworld. Earth is already burning, Dalatrass, and anything without the Hierarchy Navy is suicide. Right now humanity, the turians and the krogan need each other and you are stalling the war effort. Don't hold your breath Dalatrass, because sooner rather than later, Sur'Kesh will need us."

Linron turned to Shepard and cried out, "We can fight the Reapers without the krogan!"

Shepard continued unfazed by Linron's outburst, "The Illusive Man is so blind that he seems to be willing to gamble the fate of trillions of organics in order to fulfill his insatiable hunger for power. Your motivations are clearly different from Cerberus; you may even consider your efforts noble, but by not curing the genophage our victory is at jeopardy. You are just as blind as Cerberus and the end result will be the same."

"But by curing the genophage Commander, we are jeopardizing our future!" Linron argued.

Shepard argued, "You are willing to give up on the might of the krogan horde, perhaps our potentially greatest ally in the war, because you are preoccupied with petty grudges or worrying about a future we may never have. How far will you go? Is it worth too risk see everything we know turn into ashes to stop this cure?"

Linron cried out angrily, "If the genophage is cured, Commander, the krogan armies will march all over the face of Sur'Kesh! Do you understand me? Your people never experienced the Krogan Rebellions, the cure will threaten our future!"

Shepard's temper flared up, "What future? Have you even listened to me? How long do you think the salarians will last against the Reapers alone? Think about that for a change. If you don't get your act together and help us, that is what's going to happen!"

Linron's eyes widened and she snarled, "Are you threatening me Commander?"

From her side Victus spoke sternly, "I'll be the last friendly turian you'll ever see. We won't come to your aid Dalatrass. You'll be on your own."

Linron was getting cornered; she was running out of options. Even she could see that the salarian planets would be overrun by the Reapers when they eventually arrived. Without the most potent militaries aiding her, the Salarian Union would be gone.

After several moments Shepard asked calmly, "What will it be?"

Linron looked down and shook her head, "The females are being kept at a secret STG-facility."

"Where?"

"On Sur'Kesh."

"Great, right next door. We should be there in 45 minutes or so," Shepard deadpanned.

Wrex chuckled throatily.

Linron snapped and turned to Shepard, pointing her finger at him. "I warn you Commander, the consequences of your actions will be felt for generations to come!"

Shepard walked past the table with anger in his eyes and ended up face to face with the Dalatrass, something she was not ready for. "If the Reapers win we're all dead and I'm not going to let you stop me. Stand aside or step in line!"

Linron spat back gesturing dismissively with her arm, "You are not setting foot on Sur'Kesh! We'll need to prepare for the transfer-"

This time Victus walked up to Linron, "No! No more stalling Dalatrass. Shepard is a Council Spectre; he'll oversee the transfer of the captives."

Linron was fuming with anger. Being talked down by some human that should treat her with respect, and then Victus was taking his side?! She couldn't believe it. She brushed past Shepard and walked towards the exit of the glass encased Conference Room.

The Dalatrass turned to Shepard, "I won't forget this human! A bully has few friends when he needs them the most!"

"The coordinates?" Shepard asked unfazed.

Linron tapped her omni-tool.

"We're receiving coordinates Commander." EDI reported.

After that Linron turned and stormed out.

Shepard took a deep breath calmed down. Shepard shrugged and said sardonically, "So much for diplomacy." He called out for the AI, "EDI, tell Garrus and Liara to head down to the Cargo Bay ASAP and prepare for a mission. And where is Miranda?"

"In the CIC, Commander."

"Good have her meet me outside."

"Yes Commander."

Wrex turned to Shepard, "I want to be there, Shepard. I want to see that everything is alright with the females."

"This is a delicate situation Wrex, can you keep calm and don't start a war?"

Victus chuckled, "I think Urdnot Wrex was more diplomatic then you Commander."

Wrex laughed and turned to Victus, "At least there's something we can agree on, turian." Wrex turned to Shepard and assured, "Not that I don't approve of your behavior, Shepard."

Shepard figured Wrex wouldn't take no for an answer so he nodded, "Yeah, you can come."

Wrex walked behind Shepard as they exited the checkpoint and entered the CIC. A black haired woman approached Shepard.

"Commander. You wanted to see me?"

Shepard stopped in front of her, "Yes, we have a mission. You remember Maelon and his experiments, Miranda?"

Wrex leaned on his back against the wall behind Shepard and observed the two humans. The woman nodded.

"It seems there were successes as several krogan females are not immune to the genophage and was taken by the salarians and are kept at a classified STG base on Sur'Kesh. We're going in to oversee the transfer of the females to Wrex."

"I see. That explains why the Dalatrass stormed out angry. She's over at the airlock waiting for us to dock with her ship."

Shepard glanced down the corridor to the cockpit were Linron was pacing around.

"Yeah, things didn't work out as smooth as I had wished for, but that was expected. I had EDI order Liara and Garrus to the Cargo Bay, we're going groundside immediately."

"You want me to come along?"

Shepard nodded.

"Okay."

Shepard turned to Wrex, "Wrex lets head to the Cargo Bay and prepare." Shepard motioned with his arm towards the elevator.

Wrex nodded and followed. Shepard pressed a button on the elevator's interface and the door slid open and they entered.

"We'll have to fetch our armors Wrex." Shepard said and turned to the krogan and then pointed at a button on the elevator controls. "Just press this button and the elevator will take you down to the Cargo Bay."

"Alright Shepard." Wrex answered wondering where Shepard and the female would go, but he remained impassive.

Shepard pressed another button and the elevator ascended. They soon arrived at their new destination and the two humans quickly left the elevator when the doors opened. Wrex could read 'Captain's Cabin' on the wall outside the elevator. He quickly put two and two together; if the woman followed him up it appeared that Shepard was together with this unknown woman. Although he did scarcely remember her presence on Tuchanka last year. It slightly piqued his curiosity as last time Wrex remembered Shepard had been with Williams. But Wrex had other more important matters on his mind and he didn't bother thinking on it further and shelved it.

The doors closed and Wrex pressed the button Shepard had shown and the elevator descended through the Normandy.

Wrex wanted the females returned to Clan Urdnot. Their immunity to the genophage could usher a new future for the krogan. It would also give Clan Urdnot unprecedented power and making it easier in rallying those clans that hadn't done so already around Clan. And it was the only hope they had in curing the genophage.

Seeing Shepard railing the salarian made Wrex's day and having the first human Spectre standing up for the krogan people was even better. But Wrex couldn't or wouldn't take the small victory for granted as he fully expected the salarians to stall everything, and he wouldn't commit the krogan people to the war before the genophage was cured. Wrex needed that assurance before he did anything, he might trust Shepard, but he didn't trust the other races. Especially the salarians.

The elevator stopped a few moments later, he thought he was at the Cargo Bay already but the deck indicator read 'Crews Quarters'. The elevator door opened and revealed two of his old comrades in arms, Liara and the only turian he even remotely liked, Garrus. They were both in combat armors.

"Wrex, it's good to see you." Liara said friendly as she stepped in with Garrus in the elevator.

"Just like the old days Wrex." Garrus greeted.

The door closed and the elevator continued descending.

Wrex allowed himself to chuckle, "Yeah, it takes me back to simpler times."

"Well, maybe now it seems simple, but it was tough back then." Garrus said and leaned against the wall.

Wrex nodded and grunted.

"So, what happend during the negotiations?" Liara asked. "EDI relayed orders from Shepard that we have a mission and wanted us ready."

"I'll let Shepard explain."

"Where is he?" Garrus asked.

"He and some female are gathering their armors." Wrex explained.

Garrus nodded.

The rest of the short ride down was done in silence. The elevator stopped and the door opened and they exited.

Wrex looked around and took in the new sights. It was certainly bigger than the Cargo Bay of the old Normandy. There were crates, boxes and lockers all around the walls near the elevator and there were work benches and tables of computers in front of him and he saw another work bench in the corner to his right and he also saw some human who was in a rush working on a shuttle. There were a few other crewmembers present preparing the shuttle.

Liara and Garrus walked to the left of the doors to some lockers and retrieved several weapons.

Another human, who to Wrex's standards were quite big, emerged from a set of stacked crates near the left wall and approached Liara and Garrus.

"Hey Scars, what's going on? Esteban is prepping the shuttle for action and EDI is not very cooperative."

"We got a mission. Shepard will be here soon to give a brief." Garrus said preoccupied with stuffing his pouches with thermal clips and grenades.

"Alright, I'll prepare."

"Were you relayed orders by EDI?" Garrus turned towards Vega before he had the opportunity to run away.

"No I didn't hear anything."

"Then wait for Shepard and see what he says."

Vega frowned and leaned on a wall and grumbled, "Right."

Wrex walked closer to Liara and Garrus and observed them retrieving their weapons. The asari grabbed a submachine gun and a pistol while Garrus took his standard turian weapons; the Carnifex, the Phaeston and the Krysae.

A few minutes passed by and the elevator door opened and Shepard with his female emerged in combat armor. Liara and Garrus closed their lockers and walked up to Shepard.

"Care to fill us in Shepard?" Garrus asked.

Shepard explained the situation with the krogan females that were being held in an STG facility on Sur'Kesh.

"So we're going to supervise their handover to Wrex?" Liara asked.

"Yeah that's the deal."

"Do we even need guns?"

"We need to backup my Spectre status fully armed otherwise the salarians might stall further. Plus standard operating procedure dictates fully armed and in combat armor when leaving for a mission."

"Should I prepare Loco?" Vega asked from the wall.

Shepard shook his head and glanced at the Marine, "No I need you here James."

"Huh?" He straightened himself up from the wall and walked over.

"I need an officer aboard the ship as I'm taking Miranda with me."

"Right, but Joker-" Vega began to protest.

"Go, it's an order James. Head to the CIC and just keep a presence. Get to know Joker a little. It'll be a good learning experience being in charge while I'm gone."

"Yes Commander." Vega conceded.

Shepard smirked, "Good, don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

Vega shook his head at Shepard's comment. He walked over to the elevator and took it up to the CIC Deck.

"We're ready to go Commander, just say the word." A voice called out from the shuttle.

"Right, good work Cortez." Shepard turned to Liara and Garrus, "If you two are ready, head to the shuttle."

Liara and Garrus nodded and hurried over to the shuttle as Cortez headed inside the cockpit.

"I'm not going unarmed." Wrex declared staring at Shepard.

Shepard turned to Wrex, "Ah, they're not going to like a fully armed krogan there Wrex."

"I don't' trust these lizards, I'm not going unarmed." Wrex growled.

"I'm not giving you a weapon, let me handle this Wrex. We'll get your females out of there." Shepard insisted.

Wrex snorted annoyed.

Shepard sighed, "How about I carry an extra weapon for you? It'll go a lot smoother if you are unarmed."

Wrex glanced at Shepard and thought things over. He wanted the females back from those pyjaks and didn't have time to argue with Shepard. Wrex finally murmured, "Fine, bring me a shotgun." He was a biotic after all and a bunch of squishy salarians were no match for him.

Shepard nodded and motioned for Wrex to follow him to the lockers were he opened a large locker filled with several different variants of shotguns. Wrex scrutinized the selection hanging on the racks and settled on a shotgun he was familiar with, the Ariake Technologies M24 Crusader. The M24 was the Alliance's primary close quarters shotgun.

"That one." Wrex said plainly.

Shepard picked it up and fastened it on a magnetic weapon holder strip on his back. He pointed at storage cabinet labeled 'thermal clips', "You can load up on clips there."

Wrex nodded and walked away from the lockers and opened the cabinet and started filling his pouches and pockets with clips that was stacked inside the cabinet. Behind him he heard Shepard and the woman open some lockers and they grabbed some personal weapons and thermal clips of their own in relative silence.

"You ready Wrex?" Shepard asked a few minutes later as he closed the locker.

Wrex turned, "I am. I don't want to die of old age before I get there so let's move."

Shepard nodded and they headed towards the waiting shuttle.

In the speakers they heard the AI announce, "Stand by, barrier curtain erected. Hangar bay doors will open momentarily for shuttle departure."

The group entered the Kodiak and strapped themselves to the seats while Cortez made the final preperations for lift off and closed the shuttle's door.

The barrier curtain was erected and the hangar bay doors opened.

The Kodiak shuttle's thrusters ignited and it lifted off and hovered just above the deck before Cortez flew out through the barrier curtain that protected the Cargo Bay from the confines of space and it accelerated away from the Normandy which was about to dock with the salarian diplomatic ship.

Cortez piloted the Kodiak and plotted a course to Sur'Kesh. EDI had forwarded Cortez the coordinates to the classified STG base. The shuttle flew through the dark towards the lush planet.

Ten minutes later the Kodiak entered the planet's atmosphere; the shuttle's ablative heat shield protected the shuttle from the excessive heat load as it pressed through the atmosphere. Soon the Kodiak soared through the clouds onwards to the coordinates that Cortez and punched into the navigation computer. As soon as they entered the atmosphere the Kodiak's beacon beamed out identification for salarian ground based radars and Cortez received several calls from radar technicians asking for their intentions, only when Shepard had entered the cockpit and sent his Spectre credentials did the radar technicians cease hailing, but the salarian radars still tracked them.

Cortez glanced at Shepard's load of weapons which included his standard Phalanx pistol and a shotgun; he also carried one of the Harrier rifles. His commander didn't wear a helmet this time, and neither did any of the others. Seeing as it was a transfer of prisoners at a classified salarian facility they didn't expect to see any action.

"I see you have taken one of the Harrier's." Cortez stated.

"Yeah, this one was in my locker so I figured it was ready for action."

"Yeah, I installed a new barrel giving increased range, and I added a four times optic."

Shepard nodded, "Yeah I saw that one."

"It's a Mark 5 Thermal Scope so you can see the heat signatures of bodies through smoke and thin walls."

Shepard smirked and said approvingly, "Nice."

"It'll give you better situational awareness. Anything to give you an edge."

Shepard patted Cortez on the shoulder. "I appreciate it. ETA to the base?"

Cortez glanced at the waypoint information page on one of his screens, "Two minutes."

"Understood." Shepard turned and walked into the passenger compartment and saw Wrex standing up looking anxious. Shepard spoke, "Alright, this is the salarian home world and one of their classified bases, we need to tread cautiously as they are probably not used to krogans in their homes."

Wrex snorted, "We are here to get the females back and I won't accept them stalling."

"Easy there Wrex, we will get them, you just need to trust me and let me handle this. We go in, get those females and take off as fast as we can before anyone on base changes their mind."

"Won't surprise me if they do. I don't trust a single word coming from those lizards."

"Let diplomacy play out here Wrex. You'll get what you want." Shepard insisted.

"Those females down there are probably the only hope my race has of getting rid of the genophage. The last hope before we're extinct."

Liara rose from her seat in front of Wrex and said reassuringly, "We will get them back Wrex."

Wrex nodded thankful of her words, "I appreciate that Liara. I wouldn't want anyone else along for the ride."

Garrus cleared his throat from one of the corners near the shuttle door drawing Wrex's attention to his presence. He rose up from his seat and watched Wrex.

Wrex turned to Garrus and shrugged, "You are lucky I like you Garrus. That's why I let you come along."

Garrus chuckled, "You have gone soft sitting up on that throne of yours looking down on your subjects. Can you even shoot a gun nowadays?"

Wrex laughed and mock-threatened Garrus, "Be careful for what you wish for Vakarian. You just point and shoot."

"Commander, we're on approach to the salarian base." Cortez called out from the cockpit.

"Copy that Lieutenant."

Quotes from; Bad Boys (1995), Rambo (2008), Taken, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

I want to thank xXserialkillerXx for giving me ideas on dialogue in this chapter regarding the genophage and the summit. It was good to have someone to bounce around ideas with.

Edited (2012-10-24): Made a few grammar changes, added a few new lines and clarified some things.

Edited (2015-03-21): I moved the Sur'Kesh scenes to the next chapter.

Edited 2015-07-26: I changed the N7 Crusader name to the M24 Crusader and assigned a weapons manufacturer as well.