*FORTRESS URDNOT*
TUCHANKA
ARALAKH SYSTEM
KROGAN DMZ

"Halt."

The krogan guard raised a hand as we approached the raised dais on the far side of the ruined building we had entered. "You must wait until the clan leader summons you. He is… in talks."

Just behind him, a massive and scarred krogan sat on a stone throne, surrounded by three others standing in front of him.

Looking, frankly, bored as hell.

"You know what tradition demands," came a voice I recognized as Gatatog Uvenk. The other two I did not recognize, but they had the same tone of whining Uvenk did.

"You risk appearing weak at a critical time!"

"We will not stand for thi…"

Then Urdnot Wrex caught sight of the group that was waiting to talk to him, and a giant grin broke across his face.

"SHEPARD! KO'LE!"

Shepard stared at the guard.

"Good enough? Excuse me…"

He stepped aside as Wrex shoved aside the group of complainers to wrap the human woman in a giant hug.

"HAHA! SHEPARD!"

Then he turned and I was caught up in an identical gesture.

"MY FRIENDS!"

"It's good to see you too, Wrex," Shepard said, smiling. Her face was hidden from sight by the helmet, but I could sense the emotion that was brimming in her words.

Wrex waved us up as he strode back towards his throne. He looked down at the human Spectre, grinning from ear to ear.

"You look well for dead, Shepard," he chuckled. "Should've known the Void couldn't have held you."

"You're looking pretty good yourself, Wrex," Garrus said from his place behind Shepard. "Power seems to agree with you. Glad we didn't kill each other back on Virmire."

Wrex stifled a guffaw into a snort of amusement.

"Ah, Garrus: the one turian in the galaxy who actually thinks he's funny."

Then a mischievous glint came into his eyes.

"And I'm just glad you didn't try…"

"You have come a long way since then, Wrex," I said, gesturing to the giant scene around us.

"Virmire was turning point for krogan," Wrex agreed. "But not everyone was happy about it. I used the defeat of those weak enough to follow Saren to unite most of the other clans behind Urdnot."

Uvenk glowered, clearly unhappy that his rant had been interrupted by aliens.

"You abandoned many traditions to get your way," he growled. Dangerous…"

Wrex turned and sent a bone-crushing head-butt into the head-plate of the Gatatog clan leader.

"Speak when spoken to, Uvenk," Wrex admonished with the same tones one uses to correct a crying child. "I'll drag your clan to glory whether it likes it or not."

He turned and resumed his seat before giving Shepard his full attention.

"Now, what brings you here. How's the Normandy? Heard it was shot down, and that you got spaced."

Shepard winced. "Both true, unfortunately."

"Well you look good," Wrex reassured. "Ah, the benefits of a redundant nervous system…"

"Um, yeah," Shepard said, almost sheepishly. "Humans don't have that…"

"Most don't," I corrected.

Now it was Wrex's turn to wince.

"Ow. That must have been painful then. But never mind: here you are, with a new ship and a strong crew. Takes me back to the old days: Us standing together against the unknown. Killing it with big guns. Good times."

He shook his head, nostalgia weighing heavily on his aura.

"You have big plans for the krogan?" I asked, gesturing to the giant camp that sprawled out before us.

Wrex nodded. "We're establishing a neutral ground where all clans are welcome. Fertile females are shared together amongst all the clans. We will strengthen our race as a whole."

Shepard's head cocked slightly as she absorbed the information.

"And what do the women think of your plan?" she asked, unconvinced.

"Are you kidding?" Wrex said, spreading his arms. "It was female shaman's idea. It makes the neutral area that much more safe, and the other female clans that much more willing to join us. Attacks on Clan Urdnot now endangers females and broodlings of all clans."

"Makes for quick enemies for everyone around them," I commented, impressed.

Wrex chuckled. "Exactly! Even clans that want to see me dead will fight to the death to protect Clan Urdnot."

"You threaten everything that makes us strong. It will not last." Uvenk stepped forward, apparently not having learned his lesson from the first head-butt. Wrex stared long and hard at the other clan leader, trying to make up his mind whether or not to repeat the lesson.

"Maybe," he admitted honestly, opting to stay seated. "Until then, you are lucky to be a part of it."

"How you maintain security with so many clans in one place?" I asked, trying to change the subject. "I see the banners of Gatatog, Thax, Nakmor, Ravenor. A wise choice..."

"Clans who join us send their strongest warriors to join a communal defense force. No fighting is allowed in the camp and each clan punishes its own criminals. So far, we've been able to stop any conflicts before anyone has died. Mostly. If not, we present the offending clan a simple choice: pay a fine and deal with your problems, or your clan is no longer welcome here. Every time a clan has been exiled from here, my allies have destroyed them before they made it out of the valley. Sends a strong message to the rest of them."

"What do you mean?" Shepard asked.

"Every clan has different customs," Wrex explained, "Rites of passage, rules of behavior, battle songs: all unique. That diversity makes us great. No clan, including mine, was intended to survive on its own."

Shepard nodded slowly. "On that note, I have a crew member that needs help," she replied. "Do you know what's wrong with him?"

Grunt stepped forward slowly to stand before the former mercenary-turned-warlord. Wrex stared at him with a questioning glare.

"Where you from, whelp? Was your clan destroyed before you could learn what was expected of you?"

"I have no clan," Grunt scowled. "I was tank-bred by Warlord Okeer. Distilled from the lines of Kredak, Moro, Shiagur, Terg…"

"You recite the names of warlords," mocked Uvenk, "but you are nothing more than the product of a syringe."

Basher strode forward, one hand reaching up to grasp the handle of the massive war-hammer he now sported on his back.

"HE IS PURE KROGAN," he spoke in his brother's defense. "You should be in awe."

"Okeer is a very old name," Wrex said slowly. "A very hated name."

Grunt kept eye contact with Wrex, not a trace of fear or intimidation on his features.

"He is dead," he answered simply.

"Of course," Wrex said, rising to his feet. "You're with Ko'le: how could he be alive?"

I shot Wrex a glare that he ignored as he continued:

"If he had been alive, he certainly would have told you two of the Rite."

Uvenk stepped forward, livid. "You would let this…clone…and this thing, undergo the Rite of Passage?"

"It is the right of all krogan," Wrex growled right back at him.

"Too far Wrex! Your clan may rule, but these… things are not krogan!" Uvenk turned and stomped off, all the while under Wrex's contemptuous glare.

"Idiot," Wrex muttered under his breath before turning back to the clones in front of him. "So, Grunt, and…?"

"Basher," Grunt introduced his brother, who seemed startled that his "older brother" would speak for him.

"…Basher," acknowledged Wrex, "Do you two wish to stand with Urdnot?"

Grunt turned and looked back at the sprawling krogan camp that filled the entire valley. Then he turned back to Wrex.

"It is in my blood," he growled fiercely. "It is what I am for!"

Basher almost immediately shook his head. "I am not worthy of the Rite, battle-master," he said slowly, "Nor yet do I feel its call. But I will stand as my brother's krantt."

"Good boys, both of you!" Wrex said warmly. "Speak to the shaman: he's over on the second level. Give him a good show and he'll set you on the right path."

Shepard nodded her appreciation as the two young krogan walked off, Jane close behind Basher.

"Good to see you Wrex."

Wrex nodded.

"You too, Shepard. How many times you gotta step in a mess for one of your crew, huh?"

Shepard put a hand on her waist.

"As often as I need to, big guy."

She turned and followed her sister and the krogan. Wrex scanned over the small party that was left, and noticed the young suited quarian in the group.

"Tali? Is that you?"

Tali was smiling beneath her helmet as she walked forward. "In the flesh…"

"No, I don't think so…" Wrex mused slightly, grinning as he looked down at her. "Tali'Zorah was a whimpering, shy little pilgrim that was desperate for her daddy's approval. Not the young beauty standing before me…"

I winced internally as Tali's face fell and her hands came together in her signature wistful pose.

"Well," she said in a low voice, "A father's approval is hard to get when you have to put a shotgun round in his chest..."

All amusement left Wrex's eyes in an instant and he shot a glance over at me. I nodded once in confirmation. Then he shot to his feet and practically leapt off the throne to land in front of Tali, who looked up in surprise. He lifted her chin with a single massive finger and stared into her helmet.

"Ah…I see it now," he said slowly. "The coldness. The hardness. Forgive my unknowing words, little Tali. You and I both know this pain that comes from such fathers. I wasn't much older than you when I first knew…"

Tali sniffed. "Knew what?" she asked, determined to keep herself together.

"That I had to become the krogan I wished my father to be. Now you must become the quarian yours never was."

The words might have been harsh, but the tone was gentle, verging on fatherly. Tali nodded and brought a hand up to rest on Wrex's.

"Thanks, Wrex."

"Now, you are all welcome here," Wrex said, shaking off the seriousness that had suddenly descended on the conversation. "I extend to you the full hospitality of Clan Urdnot. Go, and have a good time. I'll join you later."

"Well," Tali said, recollecting herself, "There are some parts I was looking for in the Normandy…"

"Go see Ratch. If it runs, he probably has parts for it," Wrex offered. "Stop by to see Fortack, too. He's an ass, but he's not as big a smart-ass as you are."

Tali smiled and nodded, heading off in the direction Wrex had indicated, with Garrus and Zaeed at either side of her.

"But enough about that," Wrex muttered, "Who's the salarian who stands there with his eyes and ears open, and mouth shut?"

"Urdnot Wrex, Doctor Mordin Solus. Professor Solus, Urdnot Wrex."

"Pleasure."

Wrex merely grunted in reply.

"He's looking for a colleague of his: Dr. Maelon Heplorn," I explained, "Seems to be under the impression that your people are holding him hostage."

I smiled and winked. Wrex looked confused for a second, then smiled as he turned to Mordin. "Nope," he said simply and honestly. "Doc's been helping us out of his own free will."

Mordin's surprise and suspicion was obvious. "You'll forgive me if I find his willing participation in such a venture…dubious…" he said tactfully.

"You're welcome to ask him yourself," Wrex said grinning. "He and a scouting party went out to rescue a group of stranded females in the Korcari Wilds. They haven't made it back yet."

"Excellent," Mordin said, clearly surprised at receiving this much cooperation from the clan leader. "Talk to scout leader then."

"He's over on the far side of the yard," Wrex replied, "Probably directing target practice. Don't take up too much of his time, Doctor: I need a constant watch on the other clans."

"Of course. Obliged for the assistance." Mordin scurried off towards gesturing to the distant row of tomkahs. I met Morinth's nod and jerked my head in the same direction. She smiled and followed, heading towards the fighting pits, Samara in tow.

Which gave Wrex and I the chance to really talk for the first time.

"So tell me, Ko'le," Wrex said, turning back to his throne. "My scouts picked up a few deserters from Ganar's band of hooligans he's got huddled in that mountain he calls a fortress. They said that Hailot Wrund is dead? 'Cause the vids they're broadcasting on the Holo-Net say different…"

"Garvug is squarely in Conclave hands," I confirmed. "General Lira Speight has subjugated the planet, minus a few scattered pockets of resistance. Wrund tried to contact the remaining Blood Pack leaders on-world and we back-tracked and triangulated his signal. Leveled the square block. DNA confirms: Hailot Wrund is dead."

Wrex puzzled over this news. "Then the broadcast yesterday was…"

"Pre-recorded videos," I answered. "A contingency plan Wrund had in place for this very occurrence. We've confirmed they're old videos, but they're still serving to give his remaining captains and the militia bands on-world a reason to keep fighting."

Wrex chuckled mirthlessly. "He always was a pain in the ass. I knew him back when he was just a data analyst for Zaen: he had backups of his backups of his backups. Good head on his shoulders, just didn't have a quad to back it up."

"And then with T'Ravt killing Zaen on Zada Ban, that just leaves Ganar in his clan's fortress as all that remains of the Blood Pack."

"Wouldn't just say 'all,'" Wrex replied. "My reforms have brought a lot of krogan together, true, but it's also given 'God-Emperor' Ganar a platform to rally my enemies to his banner: Jorgal Thurak is still with him. Clan Jurdon also, along with clans Weyrloc, Hailot, and Quash. They've all joined with him and his addle-brained dream to 'rekindle the Second Krogan Empire.'"

Ganar's self-aggrandizing titles for both himself and his movement were spoken with deep sarcasm and mockery.

"You have quite the army here," I observed. "Is he really that strong?"

Wrex made an annoyed gesture. "I could drop a nuke on top of that mountain and only scorch the surface. Any frontal assault would cost me half my warriors, and even that would not assure me victory. On the other hand, like I said, Ganar doesn't dare attack us, or else he'll put the females at risk."

"Stalemate." I said slowly. Wrex growled but nodded in agreement. "So we sit here and stare at each other, and our scouting parties brawl enough times to keep everyone happy."

Another group of krogan approached from the camp, apparently looking very upset about something, from the way they were growling at each other.

"Pyjak, looks like another dispute I gotta go and stroke everyone's humps over," Wrex said, also observing the same party approaching. "Catch you later, Ko'le?"

"Of course," I said, clasping hands with him. "Victory for clan and kin, brother."

He chuckled as I walked away, passing the quarreling krogan that were this close from knifing each other, by the looks of things. I made my up to the second level, only to be nearly bowled over by a growling Gatatog Uvenk, who was still rubbing a sore headplate. A few steps behind them was the Urdnot shaman, followed by the two Shepard sisters and two krogan.

"Tell me you did not head-butt Uvenk," I said in a low voice as I fell in with them.

"It was hilarious," Jane said admiringly. "Just cut him off, mid-rant."

Shepard shrugged. "He was annoying."

"He could cause problems for you later on," I said. "Probably won't forget it."

"Let him try," Grunt growled. "I'll tear him apart myself."

"You go to the Rite now?" I asked. Shepard nodded. "Who's going with? I'd guess Liara, if she hadn't had to return to her…brokerage duties."

Shepard looked slightly crest-fallen at the reminder that her asari girlfriend was momentarily no longer with our party, but she took a breath and continued on. "The shaman will escort us to the ceremonial grounds in the Korcari Wilds. It'll be Jane, Basher, and I standing as Grunt's krantt."

I nodded. "Then I'll take Mordin and see if we can track down Maelon Heplorn. Supposed to be with a scouting party near the same place."

"Who are you taking with you?" Shepard asked. "I don't want you two going alone."

"Probably Mira, Morinth, and Leng," I answered. "Gives me a sniper, a biotic, and a close-quarter specialist if things get hairy."

Plus, those were the three I felt I needed to reconnect with the most.

"Hmm," Shepard thought, "If Mira is going with you, then Legion will probably want to go along as well. And if you're taking Morinth…"

"Then Samara is coming along, whether I want her to or not," I finished for her.

"Seven-gun team," Shepard mused confidently. "Should be able to handle whatever you come up against. There will be more room if you take the Hammerhead from the Normandy. Probably more reliable than a tomkah."

"This is Tuchanka, Shepard," I said glibly. "You never know…"

*SOME TIME LATER*
THE KORCARI WILDS

"Any sign of them?" Mordin asked as the Hammerhead tank sped along the valley floor.

"Let's take another look," Morinth answered, false congeniality brimming over. "Oh, look: Rocks…rocks….and more rocks. Exactly the same as the last time you asked…five minutes ago."

"Morinth." I spoke her name gently. Things had kinda gotten weird between us ever since she fell asleep in my cabin after the Mind-Share on Illium. She had kept her distance and been overly professional whenever we interacted.

Of course, her mother's eternal presence might have had something to do with that, but I had been hoping to work on getting things closer to normal between us on this trip.

"Multiple life-forms detected." Legion projected a point on the map where the tank's sensors had in fact picked up a large group of creatures up ahead.

"He's right," Mira said, looking over the data. "Krogan, by the looks of things. I'd say two dozen. And one salarian."

"That's more than the scouting party," I said guardedly.

"Perhaps the females they were searching for?" Mordin offered.

"Could be," I agreed. "Be ready."

"Alert" Legion continued. "Signs of armed struggle up ahead."

Sure enough, up ahead appeared the still-burning remains of a krogan tomkah. On the side of the wreck could still be seen the Urdnot clan emblem.

"Blood Pack." Samara stated matter-of-factly. "Ambush."

Shit.

"Looks like," Leng agreed. "What's the play, boss?"

"Priority is rescue of Dr. Heplorn," I rattled off, quickly assembling a plan of action. "Shock, Awe, and Surprise. Mira, Legion, exit here. Get to the top of the ridge and support us with your rifles. Get ready to book it back to the tank when we have to get out in a hurry."

Mira and Legion nodded once and simply strode to the back of the tank as Morinth slowed the tank's speed.

"Leng, when we exit the tank, I want you cloaked and ready behind whatever asshole is holding Heplorn," I ordered. "Be ready to get him out of there." Leng gave me a salute and engaged the active camouflage on his armor.

"Morinth? Boost up and over the ridge-line. Put us in the middle of them before anyone gets a chance to run for their tomkahs."

Without a word, the Ardat-Yakshi pressed the giant yellow button on the dashboard. The Hammerhead leapt over the last ridge, its booster-jets slowing our decent into the middle of the semi-circle the three tomkahs had formed beneath us.

Each of them bearing the unmistakable emblem of the Blood Pack.

The two dozen or so krogan looked like we'd interrupted a post-raid celebration. Everyone froze while they stared at the Alliance-issue tank that had suddenly appeared in their midst. I reached over and pressed the loudspeaker.

"NO ONE MOVE!" I instructed. "UNLESS YOU WISH TO BECOME A NEW CRATER IN THIS VALLEY."

Morinth swiveled the barrel of the main cannon to further emphasize my words. No one seemed willing to take up my challenge.

"Alright," I said, turning to my squad. "Let's go get the doctor. Morinth…?"

"…shoot anybody who twitches, got it," she answered.

The hatch in the middle of the Hammerhead floor opened, and Leng, Mordin, Samara, and I dropped through, walking forward slowly. Mordin and Samara had their weapons drawn, and thanks to my optical implants, I could see Leng stalking forward ahead of us. A single krogan, almost twice the size of any of the others, lumbered forward to meet us.

"This doesn't concern you, alien," he growled. "Turn around and go back the way you came, and we'll let you lot live."

"Jorgal Thurak," I said slowly, recognizing his face from the security dossiers. "You're a long way from Ganar's territory. And you have something of mine."

If Thurak was thrown by being recognized, he didn't show it. "This is an inter-clan dispute, Imperator," he countered. "The Conclave has no authority here."

"Yet you hold Conclave citizen hostage," Mordin countered. "Release him, and we'll be on our way."

"Along with the females that he was sent to collect," I added.

Thurak scowled. "They were traitors," he said darkly. "Hoping to defect to Wrex and his pack of reformist weaklings. I did what I had to, tomake sure that didn't happen."

"Killed them?" Mordin said in surprise, mixed with shock and outrage. "Tactical value of fertile females…incalculable! Wasteful! Nonsensical!"

"Like you care," Thurak mocked. "Your kind has killed millions of us with the Genophage, what's a few more dead krogan to you?"

Suddenly, a low rumble could be heard in the distance, growing louder.

"Ko'le," Mira's voice came over my headset "Three tomkahs incoming. Look like Urdnot reinforcements."

Three more tomkahs appeared over the hill, rolling down to complete the circle of vehicles, with the Hammerhead in the middle. Armored clansmen lumbered forward, guns trained.

"I imagine it will matter a great deal to Ganar," I said. "Somehow he doesn't strike me as the kind to look kindly on killing members of a female clan…"

"Ordinarily, you'd be right, Imperator," the leader of the Urdnot reinforcements approaching us said, his voice distorted and amplified through his helmet's speakers. He reached up and pressed a button, and the helmet folded back from his face. "But when we deliver you to the God-Emperor, I don't imagine he'll be asking many questions about them…"

Gatatog Uvenk.

FUCK. ME.

The FUCK is he doing here?

Coming out to stop Grunt's Rite, most likely.

Thurak started to chuckle, but he was recovering from the same amount of surprise as I was, by the looks of things.

"Looks like you're just shit-out-of-luck, Imperator," he said, his men drawing weapons behind him. "Word of advice: go down fighting. It'll be a lot quicker than what Ganar will have in store for you…"

"Noted," I observed dryly. "Doctor?"

Mordin threw a tech mine high into the air. Fire blossomed out around us as the Incinerate wreathed everything in the area in flame. Samara and I had formed a barrier around the three of us, while Thurak and Uvenk were not so lucky, staggering back and clutching their scorched faces.

A lot of things happened in a very short amount of time:

The first was that the two krogan accompanying Uvenk went down almost simultaneously, thanks to two well-aimed sniper rounds through their brains.

The second was that another explosion took place in the midst of the Blood Pack warriors, and Kai Leng appeared, half-carrying, half-dragging Maelon Heplorn.

The third was that the Hammerhead's main gun roared, and the top half of Jorgal Thurak disappeared in a bloody mist. The twin mini-guns mounted onto the forward end of our tank roared to life as Morinth sent the vehicle into a three-sixty spin, sending the krogan scattering for cover before they could return fire.

I sent a warp into Uvenk, knocking him onto his back. Just then, Leng joined us, Mordin taking Maelon's other arm for support as Samara and I reestablished our biotic field for cover. The Hammerhead spun closer and closer, faster and faster and….

Now.

The rear entry ramp of the vehicle lowered just in time, serving as a literal shovel, scooping the five of us up and into the tank. But there was no time to compliment Morinth on her masterful piloting skills.

"PUNCH IT!" I yelled as the ramp slammed shut behind us. Morinth put her fist down on the boost, and our Hammerhead shot between two of the Gatatog tomkahs.

"Mira, Legion, where are you?" I asked into the radio.

"Heads up."

The solid thud coming from the roof indicated our geth friends' arrival. Samara reached up and opened the roof hatch, and Mira and Legion dropped in.

"Maelon? Alive? Unharmed?" asked Mordin, already pulling out his Omni-Tool to scan his former protégé. He took a deep breath through his nose as he began to receive results. "Signs of restraint. Signs of torture. Knife wounds, broken ribs…"

"For such a brilliant mind, Doctor…" Maelon winced, smiling through the pain, "You still have the annoying habit of stating the obvious…"

"Phaxophertin. Should help with pain. Antibiotic booster as well." Mordin rattled off in clipped sentences. "Best not to speak."

"Hate to break up the reunion, but we have trouble!" Morinth called out from the pilot's seat. "Strap yourselves in back there!"

Leng dropped the casualty stretcher attached to the wall, and Samara lifted Maelon onto it before the two of them strapped themselves into the walls alongside Mira and Legion. Mordin secured his friend to the tray, then strapped in beside him. I ran up to the co-pilot's seat.

"They coming after us?"

"Bet your ass they are," Morinth said through gritted teeth. "This Hammerhead goes over the rocks. Tomkahs just go through them."

I brought up the HUD to reveal all six tomkahs rolling up behind us. And to make matters worse, they were catching up fast.

"They're moving to cut us off from the main camp," Morinth said as she spun us around another turn, narrowly avoiding a shot from the nearest tomkah's side-guns. Sure enough, a group of the Blood Pack had split off to head us off from the main valley, their six-wheeled driveshaft vehicles traversing terrain the Hammerhead could only dream of.

"Father Below, what I wouldn't give for a Mako right now!" I cursed.

"We're being jammed!" Mira called out from the back. "I can't raise anyone at the camp or the ships."

"You know, for being in a Hammerhead, I'm feeling a lot like a fish right now," Leng called out, holding on for dear life.

"What's the plan, boss?" Morinth grunted, expertly dodging two more shots. "We can't outrun them forever, and soon enough, they'll have us surrounded, as well as out-gunned and outnumbered."

"Mira? Do you have a location on Shepard and Grunt's party?" I called out, coming up with a very bad plan.

"Relaying Omni-Tool Geo-locations now," Legion answered, as four dots appeared on my screen, about a half-mile from us.

"Boss…?" Morinth queried guardedly.

"We make for the Keystone," I said, forwarding her a route to follow. "Even the odds against these assholes."

"Four fighters are unlikely to make much of a difference against such odds, Imperator," Samara protested as I began to make my way to the back.

"That's why I'm heading us through a Maw Field," I answered glibly.

Everyone stared at me incredulously.

"Oh god, he's crazy," Maelon groaned weakly from his stretcher.

"Leng, Legion, get on the rear machine guns," I ordered, pulling myself up to the cannon's manual controls. "Morinth, can you give me controls on the main gun?"

"I'd rather not!" she snarked.

The panel in front of me lit up, and a targeting reticle appeared on the view screen. The challenge, however was hitting moving targets while firmly seated on a moving target. Morinth's bob-and-weave strategy was making us hard to hit, but also made it almost impossible to return fire with anything like accuracy.

Shit, this was a lot easier in the game, I thought after about the third missed shot.

"By the way, you can't aim for SHIT!" Morinth egged on from the cockpit.

"Do you hear me complaining about your driving?!"

"NO, because I'm awesome!"

"Kevin…"

Startled at the quiet murmur in my ear, I looked over to see Mira at my shoulder.

"May I?"

I tossed up my hands and pushed back from the controls.

"Target their driveshafts," I suggested as I swung back down. "This cannon won't do much more than scuff the surface of their armor."

"Roger that, Captain Obvious," Mira groaned even as she gave me a wink.

Suddenly everything around us shook as something like thunder rumbled around us.

"Heavy artillery?" Mordin wondered, still looking after Maelon.

"No," I answered, a weird calm settling over me. "That… would be the Keystone."

"SHIT!" came a shout from the driver's seat. Looking forward, it was immediately apparent why. One of the tomkahs had gotten in front of us somehow, barreling straight for us in a krogan equivalent of a giant armored game of chicken.

"Boost us over him!" I shouted.

"Recharging," Morinth grunted. "No time!"

Before I could suggest anything that wouldn't result in our catastrophic and very painful deaths, the unthinkable happened.

A goddamned Thresher Maw erupted out of the valley wall to our left, barreling directly into the tomkah, knocking it completely on its side. And on the head of the maw could be seen…. No really. It was like something out of a cheap holo-novel or a really bad Blasto movie:

Grunt held on tightly, the claw end of Basher's gravity-hammer embedded into the side of the Thresher Maw. Dragged down by his weight, the claw dug deep into the flesh, ripping and tearing through plate, muscle, and bone. The other tomkahs shifted their guns to focus on the terrifying new arrival. Grunt regained his footing atop the maw's head, and looked down at the enemies screeching to a halt below.

"Goddess…" I heard Samara whisper beside me as the battlefield stood still for an instant. Then Grunt, with a roar of defiance, swing the claw-end of the hammer down onto the maw's head. The maw bellowed its fury and pain, and dived downwards again, the head and the clone disappearing beneath the surface. One of the tomkahs suddenly exploded and went down on one side as Mira scored a direct hit on the stationary vehicle.

From the hole in the side of the valley wall appeared three more figures, coming forward at a charge. Basher was dual-wielding shotguns, blazing away in a focused calm that matched his brother's fury and Blood-Rage. Shepard's sniper rifle felled a krogan who was crawling out of one of the toppled vehicles. Jane had a M-44 launcher in her hands, which she aimed at another of the tomkahs that was still standing motionless in shock. The rocket caught the rear driveshaft, and apparently one of the fuel-cells, if the giant explosion that followed was any indication. Seeing half of their number lost in as many minutes, the other three heavy vehicles roared to life, turning to find cover elsewhere.

Until a Thresher Maw erupted beneath one of them, tossing it up and over. Against all odds, a long figure could still be seen clinging to the maw's head.

"Let's go! Let's go!" I yelled, dropping the exit ramp and leading my squad out to engage the krogan warriors clambering out of the overturned vehicles. The Hammerhead shifted into action, narrowly avoiding the giant acid blast the mortally-wounded thresher maw expelled. Grunt tore in the creature's head, fountains of blood and chunks of flesh falling from the creature. With a last wailing cry of agony, the creature slowly toppled over with a thundering crash and lay still.

By now, Jane and Rebecca had joined our charge, Jane's short-sword in-hand as she ducked and slashed her way through Blood Pack and Gatatog warriors. Samara was hurling stasis fields left and right, opting to impede the krogans' progress and leaving them for one of us to finish off, a tactic that, between Leng's and my blades, and Morinth's expert operating of the Hammerhead, was proving quite successful. Mordin threw an Incinerate, targeting the exposed under-belly of one of the overturned tomkahs. The roars of pain as the vehicle burst into flame hinted at the fate of those still trapped behind the jammed doors.

Off to our right, a lone figure could be seen trying to drag himself away from the battlefield. Gatatog Uvenk was wheezing for breath, and his left leg was bent at several unnatural angles. Unfortunately for him, Basher saw him at the same time I did.

"YOU!"

Uvenk went wide-eyed in terror, redoubling his efforts to crawl away.

"You spit upon my father's name? On Jane's name? ON the Imperator's NAME?!"

"Basher…" Uvenk moaned, rolling over and holding up his hands, trying to ward off the doom approaching him.

"And now you stop ranting because it turns out the sons of Okeer are strong?"

"Mercy…" gurgled the Gatatog clan leader, hacking up another mouthful of blood.

"Begging?" Grunt mocked, dragging his brother's massive war-hammer behind him. "You are the pretender, Gatatog Uvenk. We are the true krogan here…"

With a barely-concealed heave of exhaustion, Grunt handed the massive weapon to his tank-brother.

"You can have him, little brother. He's not worth my time."

Basher took the weapon from Grunt wordlessly, striding forward.

"NO! PLEASE! NAME YOUR REWARD! I'LL DO ANYTH…"

The weapon swung up, then descended in a crunching squelch of unyielding steel meeting soft flesh. Once. Twice. Three times.

"IMPRESSIVE!"

All eyes and weapons turned to the top of the ridge, where the Urdnot shaman had appeared, with the largest shotgun I had ever seen in hand. He looked around at the carnage, grinning with unveiled approval as he made his way down the steep slope. "Many survive, but it has been years since one has killed a thresher maw. Not since Urdnot Wrex himself underwent the Rite. Your names will live on in glory!"

Grunt walked over and knelt before the shaman as the old starik began reciting the Rite of Induction into the clan. Jane walked over to where Basher stood next to me.

"Basher," she said gently. "This is just as much your Rite as his. Go on, take your place beside your brother…"

Basher looked at the shaman, then Grunt, then back at Jane. "I am not worthy of clan. He is pure. I am…"

I braced myself to object to whatever self-deprecating statement I thought was coming.

"…free to make my own path. But my brother will always be part of my life, Jane. I have no more choice in that than I have choice to breathe. He simply… IS. Just the same as I do. I am… I am Okeer's son. Of Clan Okeer. I cannot shed our father's name, as Grunt can."

He turned to face me, as Jane and I stood somewhat speechless at his declaration.

"I would pledge myself to you, Battlemaster," he continued, kneeling before me in an identical pose as his brother. "You have no equal, except perhaps Shepard. But yours is the stronger clan. Yours the more numerous enemies. Yours is the voice that called me from my stupor. Yours is the hand that held my father as he died. Yours is the banner I would follow. I would be your krantt, if you would have me."

Jane and I made eye contact. Morinth, Mira and Leng had also appeared beside us, while Samara and Legion had rejoined Rebecca and Grunt a short distance away, in front of the Urdnot shaman. I turned and nodded at the clone in front of me. With a flick of my wrist, I flung the blood from my blade, which I then laid on Basher's shoulder.

"Rise then, and behold your clan," I said solemnly. "Basher, your future is your own to forge. You do the legacy of your father proud. I do name you Basher, of Clan Okeer. May your foes be strong enough to keep you sharp…"

*CITADEL PRESIDIUM COUNCIL CHAMBER*
THE CITADEL
WIDOW SYSTEM
SERPENT NEBULA

"Too far!" Sparatus slammed his fists on the table to emphasize how strongly he felt about the situation. "The bastards have gone too far this time!"

"Why are you so worked up about this, Sparatus?" Udina wondered, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache coming on.

"Garvug was a Council world, and the Conclave have no right to just… invade it!" Sparatus objected.

"It was a Council colony world until this Council gifted it to the krogan in thanks for their role in the Rachni Wars," Esheel answered. "After the krogan drove that frozen world into the ground, what good could anyone make of it? Let the Conclave have it, I say, and they're welcome to it."

"And what of Illium?" Sparatus shot back. "Are they 'welcome' to that as well, Councilor? How far until the rest of you realize the direct danger the Conclave poses to this Council? The Hierarchy moves for immediate economic sanctions to be levied against the Galactic Conclave."

Tevos held up her hands to an attempt to placate the irate councilor. "Illium has not been formally inducted into the Conclave. It still maintains its strict independence and strong ties with the Asari Republics."

Sparatus sneered, pure distain stamped on his features. "You are not that naïve, Tevos: Conclave ships are in orbit around the planet. Conclave troops are on every corner of Nos Astra. They have undisputed control of the planet, formality be damned."

"But not control of the Board," Tevos replied evenly and coolly. "This move on the Conclave's part has provided us with a prime opportunity. Matriarch T'Voth has promised to convene the Corporate Parliament to respond to the Conclave's eviction of Eclipse from the planet. And the Conclave has no choice but to allow it, if they don't wish to appear as invaders to the populace."

"Exactly," Sparatus hissed, "And if the Conclave strong-arms a majority vote in the Parliament, Illium will be formally lost to us, and we'll be formally fucked!"

Tevos continued unfazed by the councilor's uncouth statement. "Matriarch T'Voth and the Eternal Oceans Party are going to introduce a counter-proposal for Illium to formally re-integrate with Thessia, as a full member of the Asari Republics."

"That will never pass," Udina objected. "Illium would be forced to give up its slave-trade, and its red sand operations…"

Tevos gave the smallest of nods in acknowledgement. "They are aware of that. But they have secured an alliance with the Rising Tide party. Couple that with their already-strong partnership with the Green Party, and we will have a split-tie down the middle of the Corporate Parliament."

"Hung Parliament…" Sparatus uttered the word as if it was a prayer to the spirits themselves.

Tevos nodded and a wry smile on her lips.

"In accordance with Illium's original charter," Esheel added, understanding dawning on her, "the Asari Republics, and consequently, the Council, would be obligated to move troops into the system until corporate elections could be held."

Sparatus slapped his hands against his knees. "By the spirits! The Conclave will be forced to hand over Illium or be declared trespassers!" The amount of self-satisfaction and delight on his face bordered on the obscene.

"This could trigger a conflict with the Conclave," Udina cautioned. "There will be an opposition party who could equally request that they stay…"

"T'Voth and the Eternal Oceans have a six-hundred-year-old treaty to support their request for Council aid," Tevos reassured. "Never underestimate the power of tradition when it comes to asari…"

"And the Conclave will stop their whining when they see the Destiny Ascension come through the relay," Esheel added confidently. "They're too committed to the Terminus Systems to attempt to start anything with this Council."

"I would take a regiment of turians over any three of their rabble," Sparatus dismissed. "Bastards think they can turn volus into soldiers…Those gas-bag merchants wouldn't have lasted a century without the Hierarchy, no matter what delusions of grandeur the Imperator has put into their heads."

"Have you seen the latest footage from Garvug, Sparatus?" Udina wondered. "Thanks to those exo-suits, those 'gas-bags' took on veteran krogan regiments and emerged victorious; something quite a few turian regiments cannot claim to have done."

Sparatus folded his arms, mumbling something incoherent at the indirect reference to the Krogan Rebellions.

"What do you suggest then, Councilor?" Tevos wondered.

Udina gestured towards the galaxy map in front of the Council. "The Conclave's rapid expansion has left the Hegemony and the Terminus Systems reeling in shock. The Aratoht Incident, while tragic, has cut off House Vrenak and the Conservatives. The Radicals are spent from their support of the slave revolts and their persecution of the Reyja'krem. and the Traditionalists have gained strength in the wake of this disaster, and, if all goes well, we're only a few months away from Xerol Shaaryak being declared Hegemon. Aria and T'Ravt are scrambling together to assemble the survivors of Gormack's and die Waffe's criminal organizations."

"Yes, yes, meaning what, exactly?" Esheel asked, her patience wearing thin.

Udina held up a hand. "It is high time this council strengthened its ties with the Hegemony and the Terminus. Does the STG have any contacts on Khar'shan?"

Esheel nodded. "Of course."

"Then I move that this Council extend a formal invitation to the Batarian Hegemony to reopen their embassy here on the Citadel."

Tevos smiled as she began to grasp what Udina was proposing. "Ride the tide of goodwill around the Aratoht Incident…"

"The Lesser and Greater Houses will see us as magnanimous, and willing to work with the New Order," Udina replied. "Can you get a message to Aria, Lady Tevos? I know the two of you have something of a history…"

Tevos paled slightly, but made no other indication of surprise. "That was…a very long time ago," she said in a low quiet voice, becoming lost in the memories for a moment.

"What need to we have of Terminus warlords and pirates?" Sparatus asked with a dismissive air.

"If it comes to open war with the Conclave, which, despite T'Voth's best intentions, is a very real possibility any fool must admit to," Udina snapped, "Then we will have 'need' of all the allies we can get, Councilor."

Sparatus scowled, but made no further objection.

"Are we in agreement, then?" Esheel asked, forwarding a formal ballot to her fellow Council members.

The vote was unanimous.

*CIERAN KEAN POV*
SECRET LOCATION IN THE TERMINUS SYSTEMS

"The Golden Fleet is mine to command!" Ithiri's voice was shrill as she continued to shriek at her older sister, who merely smirked at her across the table.

"Pillars, remind me to neverbe early to one of these meetings again," I hissed to Rane. "These two are going to kill each other before Aria and T'Ravt get here."

"That would probably be…unwise to allow," Rane offered with a tight little smile. "The one time Voya's knives would have proven useful…"

I silently cursed not bringing her along for this meeting. Jumping in the middle of an argument between two warring, stupidly-powerful biotics…. not my idea of a good time. Voya would have done it; she was unstable enough to think that such a brawl would be fun.

"Sister," Leska said in her very best condescending-sister voice, "It's not a question of who's in command. It's a question of who our captains will obey. They are not like the whoresyou bed, who will do anything for the credits you pay them."

"Really?" Ithiri retorted. "Because they seem to leap at the opportunity to jump in bed with you, at any rate…"

I winced. The fact that Leska's previous lover was one of her turian lieutenants was widely known. But what was also well known is that wise people didn't talk about it, considering what had happened to the man. Leska's face was…. well... how to describe it?

'Livid.' That was the word for it.

"How dare you?" she hissed.

Ithiri continued on, twisting the knife in the weak spot she'd found. "I mean, it's a brilliant recruiting strategy, whoring yourself out. Don't know why I didn't think of it myself..."

Leska's biotic fist slammed down, denting the steel table between them as power swirled around her forearms. "That is it, bitch!"

Ithiri grinned wildly, throwing her arms wide as her own biotics began to make the air crackle with static. "Come on!"

Well... Shit.

I braced myself, and started to move forward to break up this fight, already palming a nullification grenade. If I was going to throw myself in-between Eclipse's two commanders, it would at least be on somewhat equal terms.

"ENOUGH!"

A brilliant purple flare of biotics sent both sisters hurling backwards, slamming against opposite walls, hard. Aria's biotics powered down as she strode into the room from the door she had kicked open. She was dressed in her signature half-jacket, now over her suit of light armor. It contrasted heavily with the clothing of her companion, with the Lady Warlord dressed in an elegant evening gown, leaving her shoulders bare and showing an uncharacteristic amount of cleavage. She strode in behind Aria, who glared at the two asari maidens who were collecting themselves off the floor.

"Sit. The FUCK. DOWN. Both of you." Aria practically spat each word, her fury evidently unabated.

Both Sederis sisters stood up slowly, but were still glaring at each other.

"Now." The Lady's voice was ice and steel, brooking no argument. The two sisters took the hint, settling into the seats opposite each other, while Aria and T'Ravt took the other two sides of the table. Rane and I remained in the back, content to observe.

"Aria and I have been patiently waiting for you two to come to your senses and work out your differences between yourselves," T'Ravt said slowly, keeping the same tone in her voice though keeping the volume at a much lower level.

"But seeing you two wet-gilled maidens are too inconceivably stupid to do so, we will fucking do it for you," Aria continued, her tone harsh and mocking.

Ithiri and Leska looked somewhat abashed, but the anger didn't leave their glares.

"I am the Chairwoman of Eclipse," Ithiri said slowly, but firmly. "I am in command while Mother is…"

"Our motherwas a psychotic bitch who was stupid enough to get herself arrested," Leska said dismissively. "The captains have chosen me to…"

"Your mother might have been unstable, among many other things," T'Ravt cut her off, "But she was far from stupid. Unlike others sitting at this table…"

Aria stood, interrupting whatever retort the Sederis sisters had on their lips.

"In the six fucking weeks Jona has been incarcerated," she said slowly, "You two idiots have lost Lorek, Helyme, and Daratar to the Immortals. That has lessened your ability to move troops, supplies, and ships to our outposts in the Terminus, something Eclipse has committedto do in the contract with your mother. Am I leaving anything out?"

The two Sederis sisters stared very hard at nothing in particular, neither of them meeting the warlords' accusatory glares. Leska was better at concealing her emotions, while Ithiri winced at the name of each colony lost.

"Oh-FUCKING-Yeah," Aria continued, "You two managed to lose FUCKING ILLIUM. ILLIUM: The main source of Eclipse's income. While you two were bitch-slapping each other like a pair of fish-wives, the Conclave waltzed onto one of the major worlds of the Terminus Systems and FUCKING TOOK OVER. And what's worse, they managed to look like goddamn peacekeepers doing it, so if either of you try to take it back, you're the terrorists and criminals on a world you used to fucking own."

T'Ravt leaned forward, her tone calm in comparison to the other Warlord's. "Here are the facts. You two will keep up your end of the contract Eclipse made with the two of us. You have made it difficult for yourselves, yes. But if you two will not find a way to work together, you will both lose everything. That is not a threat," she clarified quickly to her on-again-off-again lover as Leska looked at her with a shocked expression. "It is a fact. The Conclave will take whatever you do not maintain. And when your mother is released, there will be nothing left for her to rule."

"So you can take your places at this table, like fucking adults," Aria added, "or you can lose everything and be two nobody pirate raiders and go join Cessa in the Dark Rim."

I nodded to myself as the words sunk in with the two Sederis sisters. Cessa had spent the last six months fighting the wave after wave of pirates fleeing the Conclave who had flooded into the Dark Rim, trying to oust her from her position of power.

They had failed to a being, their followers... those that had survived anyway, joining the third Asari warlord or else fleeing to the scattered systems along the galactic edge to try and eek out some kind of living.

Myself and the other Silver Blades had done our share of hunting down the hold-outs and the outliers who refused to pick a side. Often times, it was only a question of getting there before the Imperator's Prothean commando teams got there first. Pretty soon, every warlord and pirate captain in the Rim, Traverse, and Terminus had gotten wise to the game. Most had joined us with a minimal amount of bitchy negotiations, but a disturbing number had gone over and taken the Conclave's offer.

The door sliding open broke me from my reminiscing, and I automatically shifted to block the newcomer. It turned out to be a Turian Major in the Lady's liveries, his mandibles twitching nervously.

"Commander?" I fought down the urge to scoff at his tones. Ever since we'd killed the Warrior, the rumor mill had gotten out of control. Everything on Redcliffe, our hunt for that psychopathic Batarian, then the fighting on Tarith and Zada Ban... half the time it seemed like people were genuinely surprised that I couldn't breathe warpfire and that my glare didn't turn them to stone.

"Yes?" I asked brusquely. "Is Cessa here, then?

If he had lips he would have licked them nervously, instead he shuffled a bit awkwardly as he spoke. "No, sir."

My eyes narrowed. "Then what is it?"

"We have lost contact with her flagship…and nine of her Dark Rim outposts." He swallowed and took a step back from my resulting expression. "Her other colonies are in chaos, no one knows what happened and her Lieutenants are trying to organize her remaining ships to find her."

Shit... shit, shit, shit.

Rane inhaled a sharp breath behind me before stepping forwards, her voice a harsh whisper. "Who would have gone after her? The Conclave hasn't touched her, not after she allied with T'Ravt."

"Geth," I said, almost unwillingly. This was absolutely the last fucking thing we needed right now. "Has to be."

The young major in front of us nodded and handed me a datapad. "That's what I thought as well, sir. On that assumption, I queried what probes we have watching the Perseus Veil relays. All but two were destroyed in the last day and a half, but they transmitted nearly triple the number of relay hits... all from relays linking to the Dark Rim."

"Does the Lady know?" My batarian lover asked. The major looked from her to me, and back to her. Then back to me, his mandibles working furiously.

"This... was just my hunch, sir. We…we have no official confirmation…"

"Sacred Pillars, you have it now, Major!" I growled, pointing a hand over his shoulder. "Get your ass back to the flagship. I want every scrap of data you've got on fleet movements in the Rim. I want it now."

He snapped a slightly panicked salute and bolted. Muttering curses, I spun around and strode back towards the table where the Warlords were still convening. Raising my voice as I did, I called politely but urgently as I dipped my head to the left. "Lady Warlord, Aria: We've got a problem."

The Lady looked annoyed at being interrupted, but then caught the expression on my face. "What is it?"

I tossed her the datapad the major had passed me, my words coming fast and clipped. "We can't raise Cessa, or nine outposts in the Dark Rim. All were near the Veil, and there's preliminary data showing traffic spikes. It's just a guess, but I'd say the Geth are on the move."

"Impossible," Leska said incredulously. "Since Saren's defeat, the geth have not left the Veil. Not in the past three years…"

"And the volus and elcor haven't waged a successful war in the Terminus Systems in the past thousand," I snapped back, perhaps more impatiently than necessary, but this was not the time for social niceties. "Your orders, my Lady?"

T'Ravt scanned the small tablet, then looked back up to me with decisive resolve. "Scramble Colonel Heshen and the Immanent Death.Have her meet up with Captain Katsu of the Moonlit Gasp and move their frigates to Y-735 to investigate and engage if necessary."

Aria grunted before looking over her shoulder, to where her own support staff was lurking in the corner of the room. "Bray!"

The ever-present batarian appeared from the shadows, his head dipping slightly. "Boss?"

"Contact Ransom and his Tar-Heels. Get their fighters in the air and have them coordinate their efforts with Colonel Heshen. They will obey any and all further orders from her."

T'Ravt nodded in acknowledgment of Aria's gesture, then turned her wordless-yet-expectant gaze on Ithiri. Ithiri fidgeted a moment then, catching Aria's almost imperceptible nod, answered as she spread her hands apart. "I have three fresh regiments of troops on Tervinter, but I have no way to get them off-world."

All eyes then turned to Leska, who begrudgingly nodded as well. "I will dispatch the Crescent and her destroyer escorts."

"Do it now,"Aria said, standing to her feet. "I'll have my daughter and Grayson bring up their carriers from the Skyrim system to support them. This is precisely what we did not bloody need right now..."

She activated her Omni-Tool, rapidly sending off messages. The two Eclipse commanders stood and strode out the door, comparing notes and troop numbers. Their voices remained strained, but at least they were coordinating at that moment. For her part, T'Ravt kept her seat as the room emptied of Aria's and Eclipse's people.

"Do you have any orders for the Blades?" I asked. "The Reliant is fueled and ready to depart at a moment's notice."

T'Ravt's fingers drummed the table. "This could prove most useful, Kean."

I arched an eyebrow, not quite seeing what she was getting at. "Cessa dying is a good thing?"

"Cessa has proven more ambitious and less willing to cooperate than she initially indicated," T'Ravt answered thoughtfully. "She had no business courting disaster by crossing into the Veil."

"Maybe..." I shook my head, "I mean, if it wasn't for the Conclave's expansion I'd agree, but we really don't have the time or resources to also absorb her forces right now. The Geth moving... I mean, it got Ithiri and Leska coordinating, but this is going to be a rough situation."

"Just so," T'Ravt said quietly, then turned to look up at me. "Take your people to Cessa's last known location. If she is alive, a timely rescue will further in-debt herself to our cause."

"And if she is not?"I asked.

T'Ravt stood slowly. I stepped back, my eyes glancing downward in respect. When she spoke again, her voice was calm and level, stating facts more than asking a question. "Then there will be a command void to fill in the Dark Rim, will there not?"

"True, Lady. True."

Author's Note:

The long awaited chapter is here! Made it a long one, and AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, just as a special treat for you guys! Hope you enjoyed our time on Tuchanka so far, and our reunion with Urdnot Wrex. I tried to include "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles..." All the classics. ;)

Also, by request, we got a look at what the Council and the Terminus pirates are up to… Full credit to Katkiller-V for the editing/assistance for the Cieran Kean POV section.

Let me know your thoughts and your impressions, as well as any ideas or comments! Even the short "Good job" comments make my day!

Up for next week: "Windows are structural weaknesses…"

ROCK ON, everybody!

-Tusken1602

Reviewer Responses:

METALHELLSPWN – Probably a wise response. :P

Tahkaullus01 – I have a master's in History, so the politics of the story is one of my favorite aspects of any good fanfic.

MrBogus – I dunno, you tell me: Awesome enough for you? Did I get it "Rite"? ;)

tamagat – given the current political situation, that would be a hell of a situation for Aria to kiss the Imperator of the Conclave. But who knows?

StrawHatLuffy – Yes, Ko'le's manipulations are catching up with him. NO, nobody's going to address that elephant. For now, the best way to get rid of problems is to ignore them, right? *nervous chuckle* Right?

RakSandman – Thanks for the suggestions! Hope you liked how it turned out!

Pietersielie, dekuton – Drot is probably my favorite, too!

Blaze1992 – Not as many VI mechs, but they are building more platforms for the New Geth, and Atlas/Warjacks for the Volus and human troops. But yes, we'll see more Rampart, YMIR, and Lokis.

jackli10345 – If you add up all the canon population numbers, you'd be right. I just wanted to make this story slightly larger than life, so I took some liberties. You are NOT wrong, however.

KyuubiNodachi – I think Grunt might have a little different view of Basher now, so maybe there'll be a shift of brotherly relationships?

griezz, BJ Hanssen – Yes, Warlord's Realm is in fact canon for Beacon's Effect. I mean, it didn't contradict anything I'd written, so I figured, why not? Plus, it opens up a world of endless possibilities for awesome AU-Arrival crossovers

Lord Mortem, general-joseph-dickson, Bearmauls, Zeru'Xil, Hiei-Uchiha, BrotherCaptainSheperd, Elvisfonz23, Toothless is best, Guest, redcollector – Thanks! Glad you all enjoyed it, and hope you'll continue to give your thoughts and time to future chapters! You are each AWESOME. Never let anyone tell you differently!

EE-RAH, brothers and sisters!