Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech - Mass Effect crossover. I've finally gotten the book that I bought. While I read it, I will be updating my Halo - Terminator crossover with new chapters. Thank you so much for your patience, and I hope to see you on the next chapter. As always, leave a review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo, MechWarrior/BattleTech and Mass Effect franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, Electronic Arts, BioWare, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs and Piranha Games Inc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.


A New Dawn (Full Album Mix) - Arkham Bridge

Krogan Demilitarized Zone

Tuchanka

July 8th, 3075

Well, that went smoothly, Captain Takoshima thought as his ship, the Autumn-class, SLS/DCS Yokohama, continued to fly around Tuchanka in a standard polar orbit. Looking at his sensor readouts, he watched as the last of the Turian ships left the Krogan DMZ via the system's Mass Relay, disappearing from sensors a few seconds later. At the same time another WarShip, the SLS/CWS McEvedy, took the patrol path the Turian ships used to use, weapons at the ready in the event trouble took place in orbit around the planet.

It had been a few days since the Turians agreed to give the Aralak System to the Star League, which Takoshima had learned was the result of a deal between Primarch Fedorian and Hanse Steiner-Davion. In exchange for access to more restricted technologies, now that the Hierarchy was a de facto ally of the Star League, the Hierarchy would allow the Star League to have control of the Aralak system, making the Krogan DMZ an occupied Star League territory. This meant that, in effect, Aralak was now the property of the Star League, subject to all of the laws and regulations of the international cooperative founded by Ian Cameron over six hundred years ago. As such, the Hierarchy had to withdraw all of it's military forces from Aralak, a process that had taken a few days, with today being the last one they had.

Good thing they left, Takoshima thought as he checked the clock one more time. A few minutes later, and we would be ordering them to leave immediately. That wouldn't bode well for relations between the Inner Sphere and the Turian Hierarchy. Either way, he felt relief now that the Star League was in full possession of the Aralak system.

Which brought him to the reason why he, and nearly 250 other SLDF WarShips were in orbit around Tuchanka. Thanks to the information the SLIC had gotten from Wrex, the SLDF knew that, while some of the Krogan Clans were willing to accept peace if it meant being cured of the Genophage, the majority of the other clans, aside from the female clans, wanted to restart the Krogan Rebellions. This ran counter to Hanse Steiner-Davion's plans, so the SLDF had been ordered to send ships to Tuchanka in order to put the planet under temporary martial law until the conservative clans had been dealt with, leaving the classical liberal clans to rebuild Tuchanka and teach their descendants to use peace before resorting to violent methods. Since the Krogan respected strength, it was believed that having a fleet of SLDF WarShips in orbit would help convince some of the Krogan Clans to change their stance. While this had worked on some of the clans, others had hunkered down and began preparing for what they felt was an inevitable conflict.

Blasted idiots, the lot of them, Takoshima remarked inwardly as he looked at the combat readouts for his ship. They think that they can do whatever they damn well please without any regard for the consequences. Well, those Krogan Clans are about to have a very rude awakening, one that will shock them so badly, that they'll wish they had seen reason and logic. All I have to do now is wait for the Admiral to give the orders to invade the planet, and then we'll teach those backwards barbarians what a true military force is capable of. With that in mind, he decided to settle in and wait, while one SLDF WarShip offloaded a number of smaller ships.

. . .

On Tuchanka, things were already starting to get interesting, something that Wrex could attest to, since he was at Clan Urdnot's new main HQ. Walking away from the window, he looked around at his new surroundings, eyes darting around as he looked around inside the CIC of the new base. All around him, Krogan and SLDF personnel walked to and fro, going about the necessary work needed to keep a military base running smoothly.

Shortly after the deal had been approved by the Turians, the SLDF had begun shipping large amounts of food and water to the surface of the planet to the more liberal clans, a move that was seen as generous by most. During this time, Wrex had learned that the SLDF had orders to begin fortifying Clan Urdnot's position which, since they were now citizens of Clan Wolverine, included advanced weaponry straight from the SLDF's Army Command. In addition to this, a number of military advisers had been sent to Clan Urdnot to help educate the personnel how to best use the advanced weaponry that the SLDF had, a decision that had proven to be an intelligent one.

In addition to this, the SLDF had moved Clan Urdnot from the underground subway station it was originally based in, into a brand new, SLDF military installation. Gone were the concrete slabs that looked like they were about to fall apart, replaced instead with Advanced Ferrocrete slabs designed to withstand a direct hit from an anti-matter based weapon. Gone was the outdated equipment that the Krogan had scrounged up, replaced with top-of-the-line SLDF computers, medical facilities, portable manufactories and the like. Even the lighting was a massive improvement, as the rooms and hallways were amply lit by powerful lights, all of which was powered by a new, Advanced Nuclear Fusion Reactor that was on-base.

Walking over to the center of the CIC, Wrex pulled up a schematic of the new base on the newly installed holoprojector. The base was shaped like a square, with the borders of the base marked by towering walls made out of Advanced Ferrocrete, with the internal layout divided into sections based on their orientation to the north. The Northwest section of the base was where the dormitories where located at, along with exercise areas and the cafeteria. The Northeast section of the base was where the VTOL landing pads were, along with hangars and maintenance bays for said VTOL's, as a steady stream of SLDF Hermes-II VTOLS were offloading weapons, ammo, armor, equipment and personnel to the base. The Southeast section of the base was where the 'Mech/Combat Vehicle Bays were located at, along with the corresponding equipment to keep them well maintained. The Southwest section of the base held the power substation and nuclear fusion reactor that powered the entire base, along with maintenance equipment in order to keep the base in excellent condition. On the walls of the base perimeter were Calliope-V SAM turrets, and outside of the walls were defense systems, each one armed with a variety of weapons, from Advanced Ultra Autocannons, to Large Pulse Lasers. Either way, you'd have to be stupid or crazy to attack this place.

There was also another change, one that Wrex was immediately reminded of when he heard a voice behind him. "Chieftain, our scouts have reported that a Clan Weyrloc convoy is on the move," a Krogan informed him. "We've got our own men working on destroying the convoy in order to deny Clan Weyrloc any chance of getting needed military supplies."

Turning around, Wrex looked at a data pad the Krogan Scoutmaster had given him. After examining the contents, he said, "Good work. Any supplies that we can deny Clan Weyrloc is another advantage stacked in our favor. Maintain surveillance of Clan Weyrloc and Clan Gatatog. They are our largest rivals right now."

As that Krogan nodded before leaving, Wrex remembered what had happened between him and his brother over the course of the past five days. Once it was clear that Wrex was here to stay, Wreav had, in an astonishing move, given back leadership of the clan to Wrex, stating that he was just a steward of the clan while Wrex was gone. While he had no desire to lead, it was clear that the others wanted him to lead so, with a considerable amount of reluctance, Wrex had accepted his position as the Chieftain of Clan Urdnot, before getting everyone ready for what was going to happen.

During this time, Clan Wolverine had sent some Elementals and members of their Technician and Science Caste in order to provide assistance to Clan Urdnot. Many members of Urdnot had been surprised when they saw the Battle Armor Elementals that were with the group, with many a Krogan challenging the Elementals to a spar to see how good they were compared to a Krogan. Wrex had seen Elementals in action before, so it was no surprise for him to see Krogan being knocked onto their asses by Elementals that were not only high trained, but experienced in combat as well. Wreav, for instance, had been thrown through a concrete wall by an Elemental during a friendly spar, with the young Krogan's eyes spinning somewhat when he came to a stop. When that happened, the match was called, and Wreav had to endure a healthy dose of good natured ribbing and teasing from his friends, which Wrex felt he needed.

When it came to the scientists from the Clan's Science Caste, they had wasted no time getting the medical bay, located in the Northwestern Quadrant of the base, up and running. Krogan that were being treated for injuries with Council equipment were now receiving the best medical care that Clan Wolverine could bring to the table. What made Wrex particularly happy in that regard was that Clan Wolverine had agreed to bring his mother to the NAIS on New Avalon for medical treatment, though it was still up in the air if all of her bodily problems would be fully treated by the NAIS' advanced medical technology. Even then, it was a welcome relief for Wrex, which allowed him to focus on his new primary targets: Clan Weyrloc and Gatatog.

Of all the Krogan Clans on Tuchanka, those were the most troublesome of the bunch. While most of the clans agreed with Wrex that the Krogan Rebellions could not go on, Weyrloc Guld and Gatatog Uvenk, the leaders of the aforementioned Krogan Clans, wanted to continue the Krogan Rebellions. As such, they had directly allied themselves and a few other clans against Clan Urdnot, making them a direct target. As such, Wrex knew that those two clans had to be eliminated, which would result in the other clans realizing the futility of fighting back against the Star League, Clan Urdnot and it's allies. As long as those two remain in place, we'll have to repeatedly deal with them, he thought. Which was why he knew today would be the day those clans would fall.

As he looked over a map of the regions that Clan Gatatog and Weyrloc were at, he heard someone approaching him. Turning around, he found himself face to face with Khan Sarah McEvedy IV, the leader of Clan Wolverine, which was the newfound retainer of the Aralak System. While she technically ruled Clan Urdnot now, she had made it clear that Wrex would have the final say when it came to his clan, which was a sign of deep respect in Clan society. Clearing his throat, he said, "Khan McEvedy, it's a pleasure to have you here today."

"At ease," McEvedy IV replied, a smile on her face. "You know, Wrex, that I always enjoy seeing good people being able to live freely once again. I take it the other Krogan have been reaping the benefits of Project AMBROSIA, yes?"

"They have," Wrex replied. "Morale is high, now that my Clan knows that the Genophage is now a thing of the past. Many have been thinking of taking mates for themselves once we've cleared Gatatog and Weyrloc off of Tuchanka, or otherwise."

"Indeed," McEvedy IV nodded. "Given how low your species population is right now, I can see why they would want to get busy increasing it. I have also heard that your mother is responding quite well to the treatment that she is getting at the NAIS' medical facility."

"She is," Wrex asked. When McEvedy IV nodded, Wrex felt a smile grow onto his face. "I knew she was too stubborn to die now. My mother's always been like that.' Growing serious again, he said, "I take it that's not the only reason why you are here."

"That is correct," McEvedy nodded, her smile disappearing as she took on a more military demeanor. "The members of the Clan Watch have been busy infiltrating Clan Gatatog and Weyrloc to the fullest degree and they have news of some interesting developments." Pulling up a map of the region of Tuchanka they were at, she said, "According to the Clan Watch, there has been a substantial buildup of Combat Vehicles and enemy Infantry in this area here. My agents believe that Clan Weyrloc and Gatatog are planning a preemptive strike on your Clan and Clan Nakmor."

"Wouldn't surprise me," Wrex nodded in agreement. "Clan Gatatog and Weyrloc have always been blood rivals of Clan Nakmor and Urdnot. They've been trying to blow away both our clans since the Genophage was unleashed, so it stands to reason they would try something like this." Looking at the map for a moment, he asked, "What about your men? Are they ready?"

"They always are," McEvedy IV beamed. "That is something you should remember about the Clans: we are always ready to fight. Besides, you are my direct responsibility, since you are not only the leader of Clan Urdnot, but a member of the Warrior Caste in the Clan I lead. Any attack on a member of Clan Wolverine is treated as an attack on the entire Clan itself, meaning that Clan Gatatog and Weyrloc are now the direct enemies of Clan Urdnot and Clan Wolverine." Looking at Wrex, she said, "Speaking of which, are your Clan Warriors ready for a fight?"

"As ready as they can be," Wrex replied. When Clan Wolverine came and set up shop on Tuchanka, one of the first things that they had done was to get the other Krogan ready for a fight. This led to the rapid, but thorough, construction of training facilities, each one designed to teach the Krogan how to use SLDF weaponry and equipment. Some concepts that the Krogan had transferred over well, such as monitoring armor integrity and shields, while other concepts had to be taught to them from first principles. To accelerate the learning process, each member of Clan Urdnot's Warrior Caste had been implanted with Advanced Direct Neutral Interfaces, allowing them to learn in twenty minutes what would usually take months to do the old fashioned way. While that had proven disorienting to some Krogan, others immediately took to the new methods as though they had used them from the very start.

Despite these advantages, there were a relatively few number of Clan Urdnot's Warrior Caste that were ready for a fight, and none of them were trained in the use of BattleMechs. Most were trained to use modified Battle Armor, as Krogan biology meant that they already had many of the benefits and perks that genetic engineering could give to Terrans by default. The rest were either injured, or were still undergoing training, with the same situation being true for Clan Nakmor and the other Clans that were allied with Clan Urdnot. Still, it wasn't all bleak, as Wrex had learned that Clan Ghost Bear, Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon, which had been reformed and restructured about ten years ago, had all sent members of their Warrior Caste to assist Clan Wolverine.

"Are you certain," Khan McEvedy IV asked Wrex.

"Yes," Wrex replied. "If we wait any longer, Clan Weyrloc and Gatatog will attack, and while we have the advantage in terms of technology, they have the advantage in terms of numbers. I'll head for my BattleMech and inform my Lancemates to get into theirs. The Warriors that I have available are ready and waiting for a fight. We can begin the attack when you are ready."

"Good," McEvedy nodded. "Gather your warriors, Wrex. We're bringing the fight to the enemy." When she said that, Wrex began to smile. Things were about to get good.

. . .

Of all the things to worry about now, Weyrloc Guld found that the Star League was something to be genuinely concerned, and even afraid, of. He wouldn't admit this to anyone, nor would any Krogan that valued their honor and pride, but the mere thought of SLDF WarShips in orbit around Tuchanka, ready to rain down nuclear fire, was enough to make even the most battle hardened Krogan break out into a sweat. Nearby, Gatatog Uvenk was having similar thoughts, as the Krogan Battlemaster paced around back and forth, fingers moving about as he considered the conundrum that they were trapped in now.

If it wasn't for that damned Star League, Weyrloc Guld grumbled inwardly, then I would have Urdnot Wrex's head on a silver platter in my hands. Instead, this Star League shows up and says that we are not permitted to do that. A growl of anger rumbled from his throat as he thought about what was going on. While Guld was a prideful Krogan, he wasn't a stupid one by any means; he had gotten his position as Chieftain of Clan Weyrloc not only through brute force, but through guile as well, having deposed the original Chieftain through political intrigue and a trial of combat. Under his command, Clan Weyrloc had grown significantly in strength, enough to absorb a number of other clans into his own. Clan Urdnot would've been next, but thanks to this 'Clan Wolverine', that was going to be much harder.

Either way, Clan Urdnot is mine to destroy, Weyrloc Guld thought to himself. If this Clan Wolverine thinks it is tough, then we'll show them why the Krogan were feared during the Krogan Rebellions. We'll show them that we will rebuild the Krogan Empire, and teach those squishies a lesson they will never forget, once we've conquered them of course. An evil chuckle emanated from his throat, with the menacing sound echoing in the chamber.

When it came to Gatatog Uvenk, he'd only allied with Weyrloc Guld because he was smart enough to admit that Clan Gatatog wasn't strong enough to face Clan Urdnot, even without the Star League's intervention. On top of that, he disliked the fact that Wrex was doing away with many of the traditions that he felt made the Krogan what they were: strong, battle hardened warriors that did not tolerate any weakness of any kind. As a result, he was now in an uneasy alliance with Clan Weyrloc, with both sides warily working with each other in order to achieve their shared goal: the destruction of Clan Urdnot and the resumption of the Krogan Rebellions.

Hearing some footsteps approaching him, Guld turned to see another Krogan walking up to him. "What is it," he asked.

"Our forces are ready to initiate the assault on Clan Urdnot," the Krogan replied. "We'll crush them under our feet, and show them who is the real Krogan Clan."

"Good," Guld beamed. "Once we've crushed Urdnot, we will steal the Star League's technology for ourselves. They're tough, but we're even tougher than that. Inform the Battlemasters to initiate the assault. Clan Urdnot dies tonight." Nodding in acknowledgment, the younger Krogan left the area.

"This has been a long time coming," Gatatog Uvenk smirked, wringing his hands in anticipation of the upcoming battle. "Clan Urdnot has been a pain in the neck for a long time. It will be a satisfying experience to see Wrex's face when his Clan is destroyed. We might even gain access to the Star League's technology, and that will be the best prize of all."

"Indeed," Guld nodded. "Their technology at our disposal will ensure Krogan superiority in the galaxy. We'll finally conquer those spineless squishes that call themselves Councilors and establish the Krogan Empire as the rightful power of the galaxy. Might makes right."

"Indeed," Uvenk nodded. "We will also instill our traditions into those that are forced to obey us. They will learn what the true meaning of strength is." Both Krogan laughed as they contemplated this possibility, the menacing sound echoing in the ruins of the hospital they were in.

. . .

Unbeknownst to Weyrloc Guld or Gatatog Uvenk, Clan Urndot was already striking. Wrex could hear the muffled sounds of his 'Mech's feet actuators thumping on the ground, with the sounds of ancient debris being crushed under the weight of his 'Mech. Looking at his sensor readouts, he could see the rest of his lance in formation, each one ready to strike as soon as the signal came. Nearby, he could see sensor contacts that were Clan Combat Vehicles and BattleMechs, each one ready to strike as well.

They were currently located in one of the former commercial areas for a city that used to exist in this area. When the nuclear war occurred, much of the city was destroyed, with only a few highways and some smaller buildings surviving the nuclear warheads that fell that day. Only a few structures, such as some hospitals, as well as the underground facilities in the region, had survived the blasts, as well as the passage of time. In another area, Wrex could see Uvenk and Guld's combined military forces, each one scattered and hidden throughout the ancient debris and wreckage.

A moment later, Wrex keyed his COM, in order to tell his lance what was going to happen. "Listen up, people," he told the others, "we're going to be teaching Clan Weyrloc and Gatatog a lesson they won't be forgetting. Today, both Clans are going to have a problem: they're about to be wiped off of the map. Pay attention, since this will only be discussed once.

"The attack plan will be this. Clan Wolf and Ghost Bear will attack Clan Gatatog's ground forces in order to cause disarray, while attacking their main base as well. Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolverine will be working with us in order to find Weyrloc Guld and Gatatog Uvenk and put them into the dirt for good. Our Warriors will be causing a lot of mayhem in their ranks in order to better assist our forces. Once the enemy ground forces have been severely weakened, we'll invade their main HQ, a fortified hospital, and kill Guld and Uvenk. Any questions?" When none presented themselves, he said, "Good. When the signal is sent, we'll show them what happens when you fuck with the Star League's Warden Clans." With that, they settled in, ready to fight when the signal came.

They didn't have to wait long, as moments later, a Clan Wolverine Warrior came in over the COM. "Warriors, the enemy is beginning it's assault on Clan Urdnot. The time to attack is now. Crush the enemy under your feet and win glory and honor in battle. Begin the mission." As soon as Wrex heard that, he immediately acted. Within a few moments, his 'Mech accelerated to top speed, with the other 'Mechs in his lance moving up as well. At the same time, Clan VTOLS and AeroSpace Fighters flew into view, weapons armed and ready as they moved to claim air superiority throughout the region. When that happened, Clan Gatatog and Weyrloc were finished.

Moments later, the AeroSpace Fighters and VTOL's locked onto their targets, before firing off a salvo of missiles. Missiles streaked through the air, expertly maneuvering around before slamming into their targets; concrete and debris were no obstacle for the missiles, with each one punching through and into the enemy Combat Vehicles hidden under the debris. Explosions rang out as numerous enemy vehicles were ripped apart in the initial salvo.

At the same time, the Clan Combat Vehicles, BattleMechs and Elementals began their assault as well. Gunning the throttle of his 'Mech, Wrex watched as more enemy Combat Vehicles came their way, weapons firing as they attempted to destroy the attacking force. Mass Accelerator rounds bounced harmlessly off of energy shields, with the Clansmen responding in kind. Targeting an enemy vehicle, Wrex fired off his A-PPC, blasting the enemy Combat Vehicle apart with a single bolus of charged ions. Nearby, ATM's streaked through the air as the two Stalker-V's in Wrex's lance ripped apart a group of enemy vehicles.

On the ground, it was an absolute nightmare for the enemy Krogan. Elementals from Clan Urdnot, Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolverine tore into the enemy lines, with some hopping onto and rapidly disassembling enemy Combat Vehicles with mad glee. One Weyrloc Krogan attempted to charge at a Clan Wolverine Elemental, only to be blasted apart by a single ATM/2 missile; another one attempted to use biotics against a Clan Jade Falcon Elemental, only to lose it's arms and legs when the Elemental fired off her Plasma Machinegun at those limbs. Walking up to the de-limbed Krogan, the Elemental knocked him onto his back before raising her foot up and bringing it down, smashing the Krogan's head with several hundred kilograms of Battle Armor. "Arrogant freebirth," she snarled under her helmet.

For the next five minutes, the combined forces of Clan Urdnot, Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolverine tore through the enemy lines, wreaking havoc on the enemy Krogan Clan. Listening to COM frequencies, Wrex could tell that Clan Wolf and Ghost Bear were having a similarly fun time wrecking Clan Gatatog's main HQ, with some units being ordered to assist his forces at his location. "Oops," he remarked when he crushed a Gatatog Combat Vehicle underneath his 'Mech's feet. "You should've paid attention to where you were driving."

Eventually, all enemy Combat Vehicles were destroyed, along with the enemy infantry, leaving no survivors in the area. Looking around, one Elemental said, "Looks like that's the main HQ for Weyrloc Guld." Looking at Wrex's 'Mech, he said, "You'll have to proceed in on foot in order to kick Guld's ass."

"I hear ya," Wrex replied, putting his 'Mech on autopilot before clambering out. "I'll go in there with some Elementals and kick Guld's ass. The rest of you stay outside; this is a big boy fight now." Nodding in agreement, several Clan Jade Falcon and Wolverine Elementals followed Wrex to the door of the base. The door to Clan Weyrloc's base was a large, heavy duty door that was made from dense composites and metals. On a signal from Wrex, one of the Elementals fired a missile, blowing apart the door in an instant. When the smoke cleared, there was a hole large enough for two Elementals to walk through shoulder to shoulder. With that taken care of, Wrex and the others advanced inside, weapons at the ready as they moved in.

. . .

Gatatog Uvenk couldn't believe his eyes, even as he gazed at the video footage that was being displayed for him to see. It had only taken Clan Urdnot and it's newfound allies five minutes to reduce the military force he and Weyrloc Guld had created into smoking ruins, with the infantry suffering an even worse fate. What hope do we stand against those things, he thought, eyes wide as he gazed at the destruction being displayed for him to see.

Nearby, Weyrloc Guld was not angry, he was furious. The older Krogan roared loudly as he took his mace and smashed up everything that was around him, eyes blazing with fury as he took his anger out on anything, and anyone, that was unfortunate enough to be within reach of his weapon. Eventually, he cooled off, but by the time he was done, not only had he smashed up the table he was at, he had killed a couple Vorcha, and had sent a Krogan stumbling backwards. Hearing a slight growl, he looked down to see his pet Varren looking at him, both solid orange eyes looking at him curiously. Instead of lashing out at the Varren, Guld put a hand onto it's head, with the Varren purring appreciatively when he did so. Bending back up, he said, "This was an unfortunate turn of events. Either way, I will not let them have the satisfaction of taking me alive."

"Me neither,"Gatatog Uvenk nodded. "Those Humans want me alive? They'll have to find a way to revive me once I've blown my brains out with a shotgun."

"Indeed," Guld nodded. "I have a better way of defeating Wrex, one that will force him to comply, or forfeit his honor."

"A trial of combat," Uvenk asked. When Guld nodded, Uvenk smiled. "That will be fun."

. . .

"We're almost at Uvenk and Guld's location," a Clan Wolverine Elemental informed Wrex. "Sensor readings indicate that there is a Varren in the room with them. Should I terminate it?"

"Only if it attacks," Wrex replied. "Varren are valuable on Tuchanka, mostly as guard dogs. If Guld's been nasty to his Varren, it'll wait for a chance to rip his throat out." With that, they reached the door, with a Jade Falcon Elemental bracing herself to blow the door open. On a signal from Wrex, she fired off a missile, blowing the door open moments later.

Inside was a mid-sized CIC with a holo-table, some video feeds, as well as a few chairs. Two Krogan and a single Varren were in the room, with one of the Krogan wearing silver armor that had blue running lights on it. The other one wore black and red colored armor, and had a Varren with orange eyes, and a black and white pelt nearby. Upon spotting them, the Varren began to growl loudly, snarling as it saw a threat to it's master. "Urdnot Wrex," the older Krogan remarked. "I was wondering when you'd show your cowardly face once again."

"Weyrloc Guld," Wrex growled in reply. "Your time as a Chieftain is over. You're done encouraging more of our species to continue a senseless and bloody campaign."

"I see," Guld remarked. "You're weak, Wrex, you know that? You're so weak you need these squishes in order to help you out, squishes that are playing at being Krogan. If you knew true strength, you would've sided with us a long time ago. Still, I won't waste any more time on pleasantries." Pulling out his mace, he said, "I challenge you to a duel to the death. Winner takes all."

"Really," Wrex remarked. "In that case, I declare a Trial of Annihilation against you, Weyrloc Guld. Same goes for your pal as well." With that, the fight was on.

Charging forwards, Guld roared loudly as he swung his mace at Wrex like a wrecking ball, intent on smashing the Krogan's head in with a punishing slash. Instead of charging ahead, Wrex leaned back, not much mind you, but just enough that the mace missed his head by a few millimeters. Before Guld could recover, Wrex moved inside his guard, before smashing an armored fist into Guld's face. The older Krogan roared in pain and fury as the blow cracked his jaw and dislodged some of his teeth. Nearby, the Varren and Gatatog Uvenk watched as Weyrloc Guld was slowly worn down by Wrex in honorable combat. To them, they realized that Wrex was toying with Guld.

Eventually, Wrex decided to end the fight, uninterested in prolonging it any longer. Dodging a blow from Guld, Wrex moved in and, pulling out a large knife, plunged it underneath Guld's headplate before sharply yanking down. There was a loud, sickening POP as Guld's headplate was ripped off of his head, with the hardened carapace clattering onto the ground. As soon as that happened, Guld, fully cognizant of what had happened, screamed, a horrible, wailing sound as the older Krogan was reduced to a screaming, blubbering mess of his former self. Not wanting to continue his suffering, Wrex took out his shotgun and fired, blowing apart Guld's head in a truly gory fashion.

The room fell silent as Guld's screams of agony were silenced permanently. Looking at the Varren, Wrex watched as it approached Guld's dead corpse, sniffing it for a moment before looking at him. Instead of attacking, as Wrex expected, the Varren walked over to him and rubbed it's head against his leg; this immediately told Wrex that the Varren saw him as it's Alpha, as he had defeated it's previous Alpha, proving he was stronger and, therefore, a better leader than Guld. Looking at Uvenk, Wrex looked at the Varren and said, "Kill him." Happy to oblige, the Varren charged at Uvenk, tackling the Krogan to the ground. Uvenk roared as he tried to get the Varren off of him, only for his throat to be ripped out by the Varren, killing him instantly. Satisifed, the Varren began to feast off of Uvenk's corpse, tearing off chunks of his flesh before swallowing them.

"Well, I'd say that settles that," Wrex said to the others as the Varren continued to eat. "We've won the battle. Clan Weyrloc is no more."

. . .

Up in orbit, Captain Takoshima watched as the rest of the Krogan that had sided with Weyrloc and Uvenk surrendered, throwing down their weapons before allowing themselves to be put into vehicles designed to keep Krogan from escaping. Closing the video link, he opened up a C-HPG COM link to New Avalon. "Sir, Wrex has defeated Clan Weyrloc. Tuchanka is now under the control of Clan Wolverine."

"Excellent," came the reply. "I was hoping for that outcome. Clan Wolverine now has a source of excellent Warriors to choose from. The Ambrosia Serum will be distributed to everyone on Tuchanka, now that the hostile Krogan have been dealt with. This will bring back the Krogan from the brink of extinction. The Krogan species can now enjoy a bright future."

"Indeed," Takoshima replied. "Captain Takoshima out."

"Solid copy. First Lord Hanse out."