A lot I'm happy with in this chapter and a lot I'm not. Hopefully, you'll like it.

Review replies;

Phygmalion: I was thinking it was a similar method to how TIM does it - standing on a Reaper built superstructure, combined with proximity to Harbinger in this case. Anyway, thanks for reading!

Chapter Thirteen: Their Finest Hour

Council Chamber, Presidium Tower

Shepard and Tali watched as the console showed them a holographic display of Harbinger's true form attacking the Normandy. Already, the ship had taken damage, although several shots missed the frigate due to her manoeuvrability.

"So, if we don't press the blue button, the Normandy gets destroyed?" quizzed Tali.

"That is correct," replied Harbinger.

"And if we do, the rest of the galaxy dies," snapped Shepard.

"An acceptable loss, if you truly value your species and planet," sneered Harbinger.

He forced Anderson to face Tali.

"Would you not press that button if this were Rannoch?" he asked.

Tali didn't reply.

"And what of the Turian for Palaven? Or the asari for Thessia?"

"None of my team would press that button!" shouted Shepard, "Not Tali, not Garrus, not Liara, not Kaidan, not anyone!"

He clenched his fists.

"We may be a lot of things," he said, "Dysfunctional. Eccentric, even. But we're not cowards. Even if we were…we've got backup."

"Another fleet?" scoffed Harbinger, "No amount of ships will save you from your fate."

"You'd be surprised," replied Tali, crossing her arms.

At that moment, the Charon Relay burst into life.

The Alliance Sixth Fleet emerged first, her flagship (SSV Elbrus) at their vanguard. Her vessels, fresh and eager for action, continued ahead to the Citadel, obviously hoping that the arms would be open by the time they arrived.

Then came the meat.

Hundreds and hundreds of ships emerged from the Relay, each of a vastly different design to any other. These ships were escorting the gigantic device known as the Crucible, a weapon that dwarfed even the largest of dreadnaughts. The new fleet was huddled around it, acting as a shield of metal. Their main motivation – to pay a debt to the one who had saved their race.

"Legion? The answer to your question is yes."

"I know. But thank you. Keelah Se'lai."

The Geth had entered the fray.

Harbinger almost seemed to do a double-take.

"Yeah, the Geth – forgot about them, didn't you?" sneered Shepard, "That's their whole race out there – every single Geth program, the entire consensus, united under one goal…"

He smirked.

"Destroying you."

"They are of no consequence!" snapped Harbinger, "Their fleet will be ripped to shreds, their entire race…"

"Yeah, maybe you're right," growled Shepard, "Maybe we don't stand a chance. Maybe we're all gonna die. But there's no way we're going down without a fight!"

"But fighting is pointless!" retorted Harbinger, sounding genuinely frustrated, "If you lay down your arms, you will live. I have given you the offer, Shepard – is submission not preferable to extinction?"

"It wasn't on Virmire," replied Shepard, "It isn't now."

With that, he pressed the red button.

The Bridge, SSV Everest
Near Earth Orbit

"Sir," exclaimed the XO, "Check the scans!"

Hackett and the captain ran over to the XO's position, looking over the scans on his console.

"Oh, thank god," sighed the captain.

Hackett opened his comm channel.

"Shield, this is Hackett," he said, "The arms are opening. Advance at all speed."

The Bridge, SSV Normandy
Near Earth Orbit

The Normandy shook again as it took another hit, tearing open the cargo deck again. Joker frantically worked the controls, weaving the ship through Harbinger's shots.

"Goddamn it, that thing's like a damn machine gun!" he exclaimed.

"Jeff," explained EDI, "All pods are out – you are the last remaining crewman aboard."

"We're the last remaining crew aboard," corrected Joker, "Now hang on, this is gonna get rough."

The Normandy shot to starboard, narrowly avoiding another shot, and begun to soar away from Harbinger at high speed.

"Jeff, are you about to attempt…" EDI began.

"Yep," nodded Joker, "I have officially gone insane, EDI. Brace yourself."

Harbinger roared as Anderson's eyes began to shine again.

"You have consigned your race to death," he thundered, "You will be the first to…"

"NO!"

Anderson's body jerked as he clenched his arms on his head, his face contorting in pain as he grit his teeth.

"You…will not…control me!" he growled.

"Your form is mine!" retorted Harbinger, "You will comply!"

"I won't!" thundered Anderson, "I'll die…before I let you…kill…"

His eyes flashed again and began to bleed. This time, he did not scream.

"You think…you can break me…with pain?" wheezed Anderson, "Better people…have tried."

"You cannot escape me," snapped Harbinger, "Your resistance is a mere annoyance, a distraction."

"And sometimes…" hissed Anderson, "That's all you need."

The Normandy twisted to port, changing direction and soaring straight for Harbinger.

"We only get one shot at this, EDI," gulped Joker, "Make it count."

"I fully intend to," replied EDI.

Harbinger's beam began to charge again, but this time it seemed slower, as if something were occupying the Reaper's attention.

There was less then a second to line up the shot, about the time it took for most ships to even aim their weapons. An average pilot in an average frigate in the Alliance Navy would never have stood a chance.

Just milliseconds before Harbinger could fire again, the Normandy shot off its Thanix Cannon, striking the Reaper right in its main weapon.

Harbinger screamed.

Shepard stumbled backwards as his and Anderson's voices wailed in union. Orange light flooded the room as the scream grew louder and louder.

And then it stopped.

Anderson lay on the ground, his face covered in blood. He looked awful, and his breathing was heavy and rasping. Shepard ran over to him.

The admiral coughed and looked at his protégé.

"Heh," he breathed, "I think he's gone now. I could see through his eyes…the Normandy…"

"You can tell me later," urged Shepard, "We need to get you some medigel!"

"Don't," replied Anderson, "Medigel won't be enough."

"The hell it won't," snapped Shepard, getting out his Omni-Tool, "We'll get you back to Bailey and the others, you'll be alright…"

"Shepard."

Anderson held out his hand. Gently, Shepard took it, looking his oldest friend in the eyes.

"I want you to promise me," said Anderson, "When this is over, I want you to settle down somewhere quiet and live your life. Can you do that?"

Shepard nodded.

"Yes sir," he replied, "I promise."

"Good," nodded Anderson, "Tell Kahlee I love her, will you?"

"You can do that yourself," Shepard responded.

"Oh, but that ship has sailed, Commander," sighed Anderson.

He looked out the window, to the view of the opening arms. He could see the ruin and chaos of battle, the wreckage of a Reaper breaking up, and below all that was the Earth, its light shining into the chamber. It was his home, grey and shrouded in smoke, but still standing after everything it had been through. He smiled contentedly, and turned back to Shepard.

"You did good, son," he breathed, "I'm proud of you…"

The admiral shut his eyes and laid back.

Shepard felt his grip fade away, and let go of his mentor's hand, laying it gently on Anderson's chest. He felt Tali's hand on his shoulder as he looked over the closest thing he'd ever had to a father.

For the first time since before he could remember, he cried.

I wanted to do more with the Geth in this chapter, but that didn't end up happening. The next chapter, I guarentee they'll get some stuff. I thought it'd be a nice touch, having them be basically the whole of Shield Fleet.