Chapter 24

Dawn lay bare next to her light brown, spiky haired lover, short for breath and dazing. Even though it had been only a couple days since she had lain in a proper bed, it felt to her like months had passed since their excursion to the Citadel. Gary felt similarly as he stared into the ceiling atop a feather bed in a considerably sized guest room so generously provided by the ice queen herself. He was tired, and not just because it was late at night and he had had a very long day. He and Dawn had made love only three times prior, but their last had been almost two months ago. They had finally been able to satisfy their desire and hunger for each other, and they felt content.

"I missed this," Gary said, still staring upwards. "I missed you, Dawn."

"I missed you more," Dawn replied slowly. "We've barely gotten a break since Shepard and his crew came to Pallet, and I think that made this all the more enjoyable."

"Because of the anticipation?"

"That, and because of the stress." She sat up in bed; Gary watched her every slow, sensual move. The blunette turned her bare back to him, and stepped out of bed to find her nightgown, which had long since been discarded. As she picked it up, slowly bending over, she said, "Everything we ever thought about the universe is changing again. We've been to two different dimensions in two weeks, Gary. It's definitely amazing to me, but that amazement came at the cost of seeing so much violence and death." She pulled her white nightgown over her head, and crawled back into bed under Gary's arm. "I can't help but wonder what home is like right now. How did everyone react to the Reaper, and to what degree? And what if there are more of them out there? We had a hard-enough time taking down one."

Gary tenderly kissed her forehead. "Yeah, we did. But now, we've got Shepard, the crew, and it seems that everyone on the Citadel wanted to prevent those things from wreaking more havoc just as much as we do. Also, Ash now has the power of god on his side. I think we're gonna be okay, Dawn."

"You're always so confident," she giggled girlishly.

"It's one of the reasons you love me."

"It is, Oak. It is."

Soon after, Dawn fell asleep, and Gary felt his eyelids grow heavy. It had been a very long day, and he was ready and eager for a night of rest.

Hours pass, and it is a new day…

The time was only 5:38, but the Normandy crew was already hard at work preparing for their next mission: investigate the downed vessel. Tali had already volunteered to go with Shepard, as did Miranda, claiming that she was clamoring for some field work. Shepard, however, was reluctant to go out so quickly. He had said that James Vega was deserving of a memorial service as soon as everyone was able to attend, with Miranda telling him that there would be more time to do so once their mission was complete. Reluctantly, Shepard suited up for the investigation, and the shuttle made its way toward the sea.

"EDI," Shepard said as he was standing in the KODIAK, "have you got any new information on the ship? What can we expect to find down there?"

"Somehow," came the voice of EDI, "I knew you were going to ask me that."

"Is it so bad that I'd like to have an idea of what we're up against?"

"Is it so difficult to ask me about the mission before you leave?" There was an awkward pause. "That was a joke," EDI said dryly.

"Right," Shepard remarked in the same way.

"I'm afraid I was not able to ascertain much information, Shepard. The construction of the ship is completely alien to all my databases. I'm sorry, guys. Looks like you're on your own for this one."

This made Shepard feel less confident.

"Thanks anyway, EDI. Keep a close track on us while we're in there. I don't want a repeat of last time."

"Of course, Admiral."

There was a long pause. Tali shifted uncomfortably in her seat before breaking the silence.

"Shepard, you know that James did not… um, pass with any regrets. He went out a hero. It was the only way a man like him could have gone out."

"I know, Tali." Shepard didn't look at her when he spoke.

"We all know you don't like losing people under your command," the Quarian continued. "It's one of your best qualities, honestly. James admired that too. I'm sure he was proud of what he had done with all of us."

Shepard let a smile set on his face. "Thanks, Tali. I kind of needed that."

"I knew that. It's why I said it," she said pleasantly.

"Tali's right, John," Miranda added. "I'm not the best at emotional support, but I'm positive that Tali was correct on all accounts. James was a good soldier, and a good friend. He died with dignity. And you know that he wouldn't want any of us, much less you, John, to get so caught up in mourning him that we don't perform well on our mission."

"Yeah. He'd have lost his mind over that."

"Indeed." Miranda stood up from her seat and put a hand on Shepard's shoulder. "We'll pay our respects. I promise. But we need to focus right now, Shepard. Can you do that?"

"I can," he responded resolutely.

"Good. We're about there now."

The KODIAK shuttle glided smoothly over the azure sea of Aerendell, and came upon the wreck of the large alien ship, colored like obsidian and still releasing smoke from multiple breaches in its ghastly hull. To Shepard, the ship almost reminded him of a Reaper. But where Reapers had a certain grace to their design, this looked completely savage, not as if the race that built it had been godlike sentient machines, but as if it were built by wholly evil warriors who only wanted to appear as such.

"That is one scary looking feat of engineering," Tali remarked. "I'd be impressed if hadn't tried to kill us."

"Well," Shepard replied, "you're gonna get a good chance to inspect all of it, Tali. I don't plan on leaving until we have at least some idea about what we're up against. Take us down, Ross," he said to the pilot.

"Aye, sir. Be careful down there. I'm getting some fist-hand readings of the interior now, and the whole thing is like a labyrinth. I'm sending the schematics back to EDI so she can keep track of your progress."

"Good work, Ross. Take us down." The shuttle quickly descended toward an opening in the ship's cargo bay, dropping Shepard and his companions in a large metal room that seemed to be almost the size of the Normandy itself. "Keep close, Ross. Just in case."

"Yes, sir," Ross replied over the comms.

"Right. Let's get moving, girls."

"Just like old times," Miranda said with a smirk.

"I wouldn't go quite that far," Tali said, "but it is a bit like when we would take the MAKO out for away missions on different planets. I, for one, actually enjoyed that."

"At least you had fun with it," Shepard said nonchalantly.

"I did, in fact."

Making their way through the cargo hold, the team came across many destroyed alien ships and corpses strewn about. Scorch marks covered the steel gray floors and walls, and dried green blood was strewn about, making the hold look like a splatter painting.

"Wow," Miranda remarked, placing a hand on her pistol without thinking about it, "this cargo hold alone could help us understand these aliens better. All this tech could be used to find out at least a little about what they are, or where they came from."

"Possibly," said Tali, picking up a piece of gear that seemed to be some sort of communications device, "but this technology is completely alien. I don't know of anything like it, so it will most likely take extensive research to crack it."

"Well, grab what you can and we'll head toward-" A beeping noise interrupted the Admiral. Shepard and Miranda looked back at where the sound was coming from, and it originated from the communications device Tali was holding.

"Um," she said awkwardly, "I didn't touch anything, I swear!" The device continued to beep, and a blue prompt with strange sigils appeared on the screen. "Should I press it?"

Shepard glanced at Miranda, both appearing worried. "Well, we're not probably going to get a better chance at finding some information than this," Shepard said. "See what it is, Tali."

Tali gulped, and Miranda tensed up. "Here goes nothing."

Tali pressed the prompt on the touch screen, and the screen went black. A buzzing, droning noise emanated from the small tablet. Shepard and Miranda gathered behind Tali to inspect the screen. Nothing happened.

"Well," Miranda exhaled, "that was disappointing." Suddenly, the screen glowed a strange blue and began to vibrate violently; the droning sound growing louder.

"I really hate it when you say things like that," Shepard remarked.

"Sorry," Miranda said quickly, still watching the screen.

The device continued to vibrate until it suddenly went eerily quiet, leaving only the darkened image of a large humanoid being on the screen. The trio gasped in unison.

"Hello," the figure said in a gravelly, unsettling voice that only barely registered as human. His inflections were long and drawn out, almost snake-like. Shepard and company looked to each other, not wholly sure of what to do next.

"Um, hi?" Tali said hesitantly.

"I must say," the figure continued, "it has been a pleasure watching you three traipse around that small portion of one of our ships, unable to begin to comprehend what you are perceiving. But such has been your entire experience with us, hasn't it? Would you not agree, Admiral John Shepard of the Alliance?"

Another gasp came from Tali, and Miranda's eyes widened. Shepard only glared into the screen. "How do you know me?" he asked, unware that he had adopted his famous "angry face". "And how do you know our language?"

"In light of all you have witnessed on your little adventure, these things surprise you, Admiral? It is honestly rather quaint."

"Cut the horseshit!" Miranda shouted. "Tell us who you are and how you know about us!"

"My, my, Ms. Lawson, there is no need for such harsh language, especially from such a lovely lady. It is not becoming of you, and you will not be able to intimidate me with such menial fear tactics, believe me."

"I don't like this, guys," Tali remarked.

"I did not expect you to, Tali Zorah." Tali's eyes grew wider behind her visor. "Now, I know you have a million questions right now, and I assure you, all will be answered in time."

"Great," Miranda butted in, "it's gonna be one of those extremely vague villain plans. So, where can we meet up to vaporize you like we did with your friends here?"

The figure laughed in a low, dark tone befitting of a gothic film villain. "Oh, Ms. Lawson, there is no need. I, in fact, will come to you."

"What are you talking about?" Tali asked, becoming perturbed with the person's aloof attitude.

"Exactly what I said: I'm coming to you. It won't be long now, actually."

"Why are you telling us all this?" asked Shepard. "Why tell us that you're coming here if you want to destroy us?"

"Because, Admiral, I want you to have a chance to prepare."

Shepard and his friends were only becoming more confused and agitated. "What?"

"You heard me. I want you to muster all the strength you can in that little backwards hamlet of a world you're currently in, and prepare for glorious battle. This shall be the first phase in our coming war. I have been watching you for a long time, Admiral, and I must say that I am very impressed. You, or rather, this version of you, managed to accomplish what a million million other versions of yourself could not. You destroyed the Reapers and lived the tale, and that is a magnimonious accomplishment, Admiral. You have ascended beyond the level of any other version of you, and that makes you and your companions very interesting to us."

Shepard forcefully grabbed the tablet from Tali's hand. "How do you know all this?" he nearly shouted. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Patience, Admiral. Patience. Have you no sense of theatrics? Do you not have a taste for reveling in the overwhelming weight of the drama of war? The rising tension as your fate and that of those around you hangs by a thread? A thread that at any moment can be cut by the Fates fickle blades? Patience, Admiral. If you wish to know more, you will have to earn such a luxury on the field of battle."

"Come out from the shadows, you bastard!" Miranda shouted. "Look us in the eyes, unless you're too much of a spineless coward!"

"See, Admiral? Your beloved understands. At least, in some capacity."

"Why you!" Miranda about punched the screen with her biotics.

"How do we know you're not bluffing?" Shepard asked in a steely, threatening tone. "How do we know you're even real? You could be some V.I. with a sick sense of humor, for all we know."

"That's the thing, isn't it, Shepard?" the figure said. "You don't know, but are you willing to gamble the lives of all the people around you on the fact that you are not sure of what will happen next?" Shepard became crestfallen as the reality of this madman's speech came crashing down on him. "I did not think so. I will be watching you, Shepard, just as I have been since you destroyed the Reapers. And when the right time comes, which will not be long from now, I assure you, my army and I will arrive in that pathetic excuse for a world, and we shall truly test the metal of yourself and you allies. Prepare for a brutal trial by fire beyond anything you have ever experienced, Admiral! Bus before you go off to try and save the world, as you always do. Well, most of the time, at least, know this: you have not begun to understand the expanse of the universe. Your achievements may appear to rival that of the gods to your people, but we have seen, experienced, and know of so much more, that even the most advanced civilizations of your vast universe could not have even begun to comprehend the smallest fraction of our understanding. I am telling you all this so that you may have an idea of what you face." The smallest perception of a smile appeared on the figure's face, shrouded in shadow. "This conversation is being recorded, so you may use it as proof of what would otherwise be mad ravings. Feel free to use it as needed. Now, get going, Admiral. Time is running out, and I have long since grown impatient in anticipation for this glorious occasion. Until we meet again, Shepard. Good day, and good luck." The screen went black, quiet.

"What," Miranda asked, "…the hell… was that?"

Shepard's hands shook and his eyes narrowed in indignant rage. His teeth gritted as he stared down into the blank tablet. "I don't know, but someone just declared war on us."

"Wonderful!" Tali exclaimed sarcastically, throwing her hands in the air. "Absolutely fantastic! Keelah, as if we didn't have enough problems already. First, we find out the Reapers are still out there somewhere, then we're pulled back into the military against our wills by the Council. Then James dies, and now, we're on the brink of war with inter-dimensional whackjobs! Can this mission get any worse?"

An earsplitting creaking noise of metal grinding against metal rang throughout the cargo hold, and the black ground shifted abruptly under their feet.

"Tali," Shepard sneered, "what did I say about saying things like that!?"

"Sorry!"

Miranda pushed both of them in the back, shouting "Move!"

The cargo hold began to angle backward, meaning the ship was falling. The trio could see the view of the sky outside of the hold shifting, angling up towards the bright sun. Shepard, Miranda and Tali sprinted to the opening, fighting against the force of gravity pulling them toward the far wall.

"Ross," Shepard shouted into his earpiece, "we need an emergency evac now!"

"I see it, sir. On my way!"

The ship was tilting faster now. The sound of rushing water could be heard from the sea below; crates and fighters began sliding backwards along the floor, adding to the deafening cacophony of noise that assaulted the soldiers' ears. The trio slowly trudged up the growing incline, grabbing anything that was bolted the floor to aid them. Tali pushed ahead to the lead, with Shepard behind her, and Miranda next to him. A large crate flew by Shepard's head, with him barely managing to duck underneath it. "Damn!" he yelled. "That was too close."

"Where's Ross?" Miranda shouted above the chaos. "This thing is going to take us to the bottom of the ocean if we don't get out of here now!"

"You called, ma'am?" said the voice of Ross. "Get to the entrance and you can jump to the shuttle, but hurry! The ship's gonna go down any moment."

"Don't have to tell us twice," Tali said confidently. "Let's get the- Woah!" Tali exclaimed as the ship lurched. The Quarian lost her already unstable balance, and began sliding down the floor, screaming. "Help!"

"Tali!" Shepard shouted in fear. He tried to grab her extended hand, but missed and she slid past him, gaining speed and clamoring for anything she could grasp.

All of a sudden, Tali stopped dead, feeling something grasp her wrist firmly. She looked up to see the contorting face of Miranda peering down to her, holding on to Tali and a crate with all her above-human might. "Hold on, Tali!" she shouted, slowly pulling the Quarian behind her. Miranda grabbed both of Tali's hands and heaved her forward as the ship continued to tilt backward. They had almost reached the entrance. The sun was growing brighter.

"C'mon, guys!" Ross yelled. "You can do it! You've gotten out of tighter spots before!"

Shepard paused to let the girls catch up to him, now only a few yards from the entrance. They could hear the roar of the KODIAK's thrusters. Shepard helped Miranda support Tali as the trio ascended the final steps. Explosions sounded off behind them. Realizing that the fighters were about to blow, the group mustered all their might and sprinted uphill to the opening. They reached the edge and, with wild hollers of bravado, made a daring leap of faith out over the sapphire ocean water, and into the open hatch of the KODIAK.

Shepard and Tali had made a clean jump into the hatch, but Miranda barely missed, and dangled from the shuttle. Grunting and panting, she shouted "Help me!" She felt her fingers begin to slip as fatigue took hold. Her vision was filled with spots, and her arms screamed at her in pain. She felt her grip slipping beyond the point of no return, when two hands grabbed her arms. Tali and Shepard were above her, holding onto their comrade.

"Got you!" Tali exclaimed. The Admiral and the Quarian hoisted Miranda into the hatch, and they all lay back on the ground as the doors closed. Panting and wheezing, Tali laboriously remarked, "Consider us even, Miranda."

"Considered," Miranda said through heavy breaths.

"You both okay?" Shepard asked. Miranda and Tali responded with nothing more than thumbs up. Shepard laughed, then clutched his side in pain. "Please try not to make me laugh for a little while, okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Tali wheezed.

"Second," Miranda said.

"Everyone good back there?" came Ross.

"We're fine, Ross," replied Shepard. "Just take us back to land. Immediately."

"You got it, sir."

The KODIAK veered back toward the mainland, and the giant alien ship sunk into the sea. The trio pulled themselves into seats, still exhausted from their adventure.

"What was that all about?" Tali asked. "Why did the ship just sink into the ocean? And how did that creep know we were there to begin with?"

"I have no idea," Shepard said, putting an arm around Miranda, who gently laid her head on his shoulder, "but we've got to get this message to the queen and the Normandy. I'd like to say that I think the guy was bluffing, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't. No one's that confident and snarky without any cards in their hand."

Miranda added, "And they'd only act that snarky if they wanted everyone to know that they had a good hand. This guy is too antagonizing for us to take any sort of risk. We have to mobilize the armies of Aerendell our way."

"But isn't that wrong, at least in some way?" Tali inquired. "We'd be advancing their technology centuries in a single day! I know that these are desperate times, and all that, but doesn't that sound dangerous?"

Shepard stroked his chin in thought. "We don't have a choice, Tali," he said gravely. "I'm not about to let all these people get blown to hell over possible moral quandries." He breathed deeply, and looked out the window as if he would find more answers in the sky as it raced by, giving way to a long off mountain range. "We're going to prepare them for whatever comes next," he said stoutly.

"A war, John," Miranda added gravely. "Another war."

"Yes," said Shepard, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. "Another god damned war."

Elsa sat up in her bed and stretched, feeling her muscles relax as she woke up. For the first time in years, she knew she had overslept, and yet, she didn't care. She couldn't deny the blissful feeling of being refreshed after a long, sound night of sleep. With a spring in her step, and a song on her lips, she set about putting on some lounging clothes, all while humming a cheerful tune. Even her voice was feeling better, as she found herself using her full range.

When she was presentable, she walked to her large window and threw open the curtains, taking in the crisp morning sunlight. "A new day," Elsa said to herself, "and with a new day comes new strength." She peered down over her city. Most of the town looked abandoned, which immediately had her worried, spoiling her pleasant mood. "What is this?" she asked to the air. "Everyone should be helping to rebuild. Where is everyone?" It was then that the queen caught a glimpse of the front gates, and saw a large mob of angry townsfolk in some sort of heated argument. She could not make it out perfectly from the height of her room, but it appeared that there was even a fight breaking out among some of the citizens. Elsa put her hands on the side of her head and let out a very un-ladylike angry growling noise. She shouted to the air, as if towards the gods themselves, "Can I please just get one peaceful morning?! Just one!"

Fuming and sporting a terrifying scowl with deeply furrowed brows, Elsa stormed out of her bedroom and into the hall where she was immediately stopped by two handmaidens.

"Milady," said one of them, a tall blond with lines on her face characteristic of her middle age, "please, this is something you needn't concern yourself with at this time."

"Yes, milady," said the other, a shorter dirty blond not much older than Elsa. The maid put on a fake smile of reassurance which did not fool her queen in the slightest. "King Caedmon and Princess Anna have it all under control, Your Highness."

"Ladies," Elsa said, raising a hand to silence them, "just don't." The maids gawked at their queen, and then each other before bowing and moving out of the way. "Thank you," Elsa said as she walked away.

The ice queen, now heated with anger and irritation, began descending the many flights of stairs that led to the grand hall where many of the wounded were being held. She rushed past her servants, all scrambling to fix the mess that only she seemed to be unaware of, and then came upon the bannister seats overlooking the grand hall. The incessant shouting could be heard three floors away.

People were arguing all throughout the hall, some amongst their own families and friends. Mothers tried in vain to calm their screaming and frightened children. Brothers and sons tried to break up fights amongst their families. "It's a madhouse," Elsa said under her breath.

"Elsa!" came a soft woman's voice behind her, accompanied by a hand on the queen's shoulder. Elsa turned to see Eliza standing beside her, looking exhausted and afraid. "What are you doing down here?" she asked with intensity. "How long have you been down here? Are you alright, my dear?"

Eliza placed her other hand on Elsa's shoulder, but the younger woman batted both away, saying "Unhand me!" Eliza's look of surprise and hurt cut Elsa to the core, and she let out another vocalization of anger. "Sorry," she said with more snap than she had intended, "it's just… gods, what is going on down there!?"

"Some men," Eliza gazed out over the angry crowd, seemingly forgetting about Elsa's aggression, "we do not know who yet, started rousing the rabble against… well, against my family, your family, our Normandy heroes, and you, my dear."

"Of course," Elsa sneered at her subjects. That was not the reaction Eliza had expected. "This probably has something to do with the church, doesn't it?" she asked.

"That is what we believe, yes. Elsa," she tentatively placed a hand on the girl's back, "perhaps you should go back to your room. Let us sort this out, and we'll come get-"

"Out of the question," Elsa nearly growled. She stood up straight to look Eliza in the eyes, and found that she was actually marginally taller than the other queen, making her appear more imposing with a stare that could freeze flames. "I spent years cowering in my room waiting for someone else to solve the problems of my kingdom, groveling in a corner while others pranced up and down my castle ruling my land for me. I have had enough of it," she hissed slowly, and turned to the stairs. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, you will follow me down there to help my people, or you will stay out of my way. Your choice."

Eliza's response got caught in her throat. She had never seen Elsa so defensive, or antagonistic. She was taken back, but understanding of the young woman's mentality. Everything she had said was true, and there was no way she could debate it. "I'll go with you," Eliza finally said. "You may not need help, but I'd rather be prepared to give you whatever you need than watch idly by as the situation gets out of hand." Eliza walked beside Elsa. "Come," she said regally. With back's straight and heads held high, the two queens descended the carved stone steps.

The roars of the roused rabble grew louder as they came to the floor. More people had begun fighting, wrestling and tossing each other around. Any who did not wish to be involved fled back to any tents which were not already occupied or toppled by the mob. They have become like animals, Elsa thought. Furious apes scrambling for attention. "I will not allow this," she said aloud.

As the queens came upon the first set of tents, the refugees occupying the makeshift shelters looked on their ruler with awe and fear. Elsa carried herself unlike any time they had seen before: cold as death, confident as a warlord striding across the field of victory, and unshaken as the mountains to the east. She did not fully know the nature of the mob, but whatever it was, men and women on both sides slunk back at her presence, many bowing their heads in reverence and fear.

Elsa and Eliza came upon the full expanse of the hall. Murmurs of the queens' presence began to seep through the crowd like skulking, stealthy vipers. More people gradually took notice of the royal women, with some ceasing their squabbling, though most did not even register their presence.

"This ends now," Elsa said.

"Don't do anything brash, Elsa," whispered Eliza worriedly. "Handle this like a queen, not a…" her voice trailed off.

"Like a monster?" Elsa finished.

"That's not what I was going to say."

"It doesn't matter," she snapped back. "I wasn't planning on it anyway." Elsa breathed deeply with eyes closed. She felt herself focus on the situation at hand, drowning out all of the world and retreating inwards. I am the queen. I am their queen. Whether they like it or not. She exhaled slowly, and looked out to the mob, all inhibitions or doubts gone from her being. She had never felt more powerful. "Enough!"

The command rang out throughout the hall with a resounding echo, catching the ears of all present. The fighting immediately stopped. All eyes fell on Elsa, including that of Eliza, who gazed with mouth agape at the unbridled and unfettered display of power and dominance she had just witnessed. A great silence fell on the room, as if the world itself had stopped spinning.

Elsa began to walk forward, with Eliza almost tripping over herself to catch up as she snapped out of her trance. "We are not savages," Elsa cried out into the crowd with a commanding and resolute voice. "We are not a divided people! Whatever quarrels you may have with each other or with me shall be handled just so: with me! Do not bring others into problems they have no part of!" As she came to the end of the hall and out near the courtyard, all her subjects present hanged on every word their queen said. Caedmon, his children, Anna and Kristoff were all present trying to relieve the situation, but were just as well caught dumbfounded by Elsa's display.

Elsa breathed again. To her surprise, she did not feel her confidence begin to wane, as it so often did, but she felt it only swell in her, a warm pride billowing in her core that she could not help but release unto the world. "We survived an attack unlike anything we have ever seen or heard of before together. You huddled together around the fire I and my staff provided you in the wake of such a catastrophe. We have all lost loved ones and those we were close to, but we can only pull through and honor their lives they so tragically lost if we are to band together as one nation, one people!" Elsa was still not fully sure what she was doing, but it seemed to be working as many began to rise from their sitting positions or stand at attention.

The queen scanned the room, and her eyes found Geralt among the younger members of their visitors; the "trainers, as they had been called. They apparently had been trying to dissolve the conflict themselves, but with little results. Geralt and Elsa's gaze met, and the bodyguard gave the queen a slow nod of approval before she continued. "It is true that we have been in the midst of great political strife, but our problems are just that, ours. We now know that there is more to the universe than just ourselves, and that means that we can no longer allow petty squabbling to seize our attention, as forces beyond us are out there," she pointed to the horizon, "waiting to destroy us. Put aside the politics and arguments, I beg you! and help each other in this time of need!" Slowly but surely, cheering began to sound throughout the hall. Some scorned her speech, but they were drowned out by the cheers of those who agreed. A confident smile came to Elsa's face, and she looked to Eliza with it, who responded with a soft smile and nod of her own. Caedmon, his family, Elsa's family, and Geralt joined her side in victory without fighting.

"Spoke like a true queen," Caedmon said into Elsa's ear. "I am very proud of you, my dear."

"Thank you," was her only response.

The scene that followed consisted of families reconnecting, persistent agitators being sent away, and people genuinely helping one another. Heads bowed to the queen of Aerendell, and she stood tall and proud in the midst of her people. Crewmembers from the Normandy helped distribute more supplies, and for the next hour, it seemed that there was at least some peace in the tumultuous city.

When an hour of service and help had passed, the great vessel that carried the wraiths was seen sinking into the sea, and a shuttle appeared on the horizon minutes later. The blue KODIAK landed in the courtyard, and out walked Shepard, Miranda and Tali. Elsa and the other royals came out to address them.

"Admiral," Elsa greeted calmly, "is your investigation already done? I've been told you only left this morning."

"That's correct, Your Grace, and I'm sorry to be pushy, but I must speak with you all in private immediately."

"Sounds serious," Anna remarked.

"It is," Miranda responded for her fiance. "I'm afraid this is a matter of absolute importance. So, if it is not too much trouble, we would like an audience as soon as you are able, Your Highness. Right now, if possible."

"Of course. This way, please," Elsa gestured toward her castle.

"Your Majesty!" came a man's voice form the crowd. A guard in blue leather armor ran up to the group with a look of intensity on his face. "Milady," he said, "I deeply apologize for the interruption, but we have found the man who started the riot."

"Riot?" asked Shepard.

"Long story," Rapunzel replied.

"Who was this man?" Elsa inquired with no change in her expression. "Where is he now?"

"In chains, milady."

"Have him and any accomplices he may have brought before me after my meeting with the[JG1] Admiral," Elsa commanded darkly. "I want to hear his reasonings for all this myself."

"As you wish," the knight bowed and went on his way.

"Shepard," Elsa turned to address him, "shall we?"

"Of course, Your Highness."

When they were in one of Elsa's private chambers, Shepard brought the tablet out for all to see. "We found this on the alien carrier," he explained. "When we tried to use it, we… well, received a message."

"What sort of message?" Elsa asked, intrigued.

"This sort, Your Highness." Shepard cued up the video message from their mysterious antagonist. Upon completion, everyone present stared at the tablet in terror, except for Miranda and Shepard, who only appeared more disheartened.

"By the gods," Caedmon finally said. "How can something like that exist?"

Miranda's normally perfect posture wavered slightly before she spoke. "We have seen many things in our time that should be unexplainable, Your Majesty, but even with all that has happened to us recently," she paused, her eyes growing dark, "we find this hard to believe."

"What are we going to do then?" Anna stammered, fear obvious on her face.

"The only thing we can do, Princess," Shepard replied. "Prepare for war."

Gods above, thought Elsa. We're going to war.