The spiral of the Milky Way spun over the center of the briefing room table, scrawled with navigation symbols. The familiar circle-and-stick topography of the relay network stretched across its vast expanse. Highlighted in red was the course of the Migrant Fleet, a path that could lead to the end of the entire quarian species, the geth, or both.

Tali'Zorah stood at the head of Normandy's conference room with Shepard and Legion and tried to focus on the people in the room instead of the red line. The last time the entire squad had assembled en masse was after the Normandy had crashed on the collector base. Only this time, they were nine instead of twelve, and Tali would be doing the talking along with Shepard. He stood tall next to her, arms crossed, looking about to make sure everyone in the squad was paying attention as he spoke.

"By now, lead elements of the Migrant Fleet Navy has reached Dholen," Shepard said. "Thousands of ships are massing there as we speak. The order to take Rannoch could happen at any time, but there's reason to believe it hasn't happened yet. Tali, you want to fill everybody in?"

Tali took a deep breath and looked across the eyes of her friends. Garrus, Kasumi, and Jacob watched with concern and sadness. Miranda seemed unusually engaged, for once keeping her eyes on the speaker instead of ticking away on her datapad. Even Samara and Zaeed, two notoriously detached members of the squad, seemed more interested than usual. And then there was Grunt. Bless his heart, as much as the krogan tried to stand still and pay attention, he couldn't ignore the smell of blood in the air. The way his eyes gleamed in the light as shifted from foot to foot made it clear he couldn't wait for the coming war.

"According to doctrine," Tali pointed to the map, "Navy battle groups will have secured the route from Raheel-Leyya to Tikkun, taking the relays at Sahrabarik, Nariph, and Dholen. Their mission is to keep the relays clear of traffic so the heavy fleet and support elements can flow through unimpeded. Assuming the Navy is successful, the civilian ships of the Flotilla will catch up over the next few days. I don't know which exact invasion plan the Navy is following, but most have the Heavy Fleet massing at Dholen to transit as a single group for a concentrated strike on Tikkun."

"That's the quarian half of the equation," Shepard leaned in and zoomed in on the Far Rim. "Now the other side. According to Legion, the geth plan is to let the quarians come to them. They'll abandon Dholen and fall back to Rannoch to fight a defensive engagement there to allow for the greatest concentration of their processing power and physical platforms."

A 3-D tactical rendering of the Tikkun system appeared on the holo, showing a rapid-fire series of simulated engagements between two massive fleets. Shepard narrated as they flashed by. "EDI's done an analysis based on information provided by both Tali and Legion, utilizing data that neither side has in their entirety. In every scenario, the quarians lose, and they lose big. They'll be outnumbered and outfought, and though they may inflict heavy damage to the geth, they will ultimately fail. Losses to the Migrant Fleet will be extreme.

"But the quarians think they have an ace in the hole. Xen intends to take control of the geth collective by rewriting their core programming with a virus like the heretics intended to do a few months ago. If she succeeds, the geth are finished. If she doesn't, it's the quarians who pay the price. Regardless, only one side will remain standing."

Around the table, all eyes fell on the geth and quarian. "Now for the good news," Shepard said. "The virus can't be delivered remotely. It has to be loaded into an active hub, directly, for it to spread. There's only a few places that can be done, and we have a chance to stop it. Legion?" As before, Shepard moved away from the head of the table, and Legion took his place.

The geth's head flaps expanded and contracted as it spoke. "Geth processing hubs are located in the systems of Dholen, Tikkun, and Ma-at. When the Creator fleet arrives at Dholen, the hubs there will be offlined. Their processes will transfer to platforms at Tikkun to consolidate defenses there, leaving no viable vector for the Creator virus in the Dholen system. The hubs at Tikkun will be heavily defended and unsuitable for approach by any Creator vessel."

Legion zoomed the projection to show a single planet looping around a yellow star. "However, not all platforms and hubs beyond the Perseus Veil will be abandoned. This is the system of Ma-at, consisting of one G-type star and one planetary body. Ammut is a gas giant, with fuel collection and fabrication facilities scattered across its nineteen moons. The collective will maintain a sizable presence in this system to provide for repairs and refueling, as well as a reserve to attack Creator forces from behind at Tikkun. Creator forces will either have to divert assets as a rear-guard against counterattack, or attack Ma-at directly to neutralize the threat, destabilizing their main thrust toward Tikkun."

Zaeed leaned in for a closer look at the planet, surrounded by crisscrossing orbital paths. "That's a hornet's nest right there. Any quarian ship gets within visual range is gonna get chewed up and spat out long before they see dock."

"We concur with this assessment." The geth brought the star into closer view on the display to the point where nothing else was visible... almost. A thin green circle appeared around the star, accented with a tiny white dot. The display zoomed in once more on an irregular oblong rock. The hemisphere facing the star was covered with metallic squares like a disco ball. "The logical choice for insertion of virus by Creator forces is Orbital Body 413319. 43.6 kilometers in diameter, relocated to close orbit around Ma-at the edge of its heliosphere. Utilized by the collective for the development of thermal and solar power sources, Orbital Body 413319 contains a hub containing three million, two-hundred-twenty thousand geth processes."

Tali pointed at the projection. "That's where Xen will go. The asteroid's remote location and small size are perfect for her to exploit. Like Haratar, the heretic station, it has virtually no external defenses. Xen won't be able to get an entire battle group there without drawing attention, but a small ship, or better still, a stealth-equipped shuttle could get to the asteroid without being detected. We did something similar to land our forces on Haestrom."

Shepard Leaned forward with his hands on the table. "Xen's goal will be to get to that asteroid as the Heavy Fleet gathers at Dholen to make the final assault on Rannoch. It's up to us to stop her before she can infect that hub."

Samara asked the obvious question. "And how are we going to do that, Commander?"

"Simple." Shepard said. "We make sure it goes offline before Xen gets to it. We do that and she's left with nowhere to stick that virus except up her waste port. Then we let the quarian Navy know they've lost their silver bullet and hope they're smart enough to hold at Dholen. Maybe hand them intel on the true size of the geth fleet to drive the point home."

Jacob looked at Legion. "And what about the geth? What's going to keep them from coming to the Creators?"

Legion's head flaps expanded. "The geth collective does not desire conflict with the Creators, but will defend itself from aggression. If Shepard-Commander is able to convince the Creator Fleet to retreat, there will be no further conflict. Though the geth collective is unaware that Shepard-Commander and the Normandy are intact, they will readily accept his input once identity is confirmed. Shepard-Commander's perspective is greatly valued when determining consensus in the collective."

"Those are some pretty big ifs."

"Yeah," Shepard said, "and we haven't even covered the biggest one yet. The first step to stopping Xen is getting to Ma-at before she does. Toward that end... EDI?"

The ship's AI enhanced the display of the Paz system. "Analysis of data recovered from the collector base by Professor Solus indicates the presence of hundreds of uncharted relays throughout the galaxy. These relays constitute a shadow network that allow reapers to avoid detection by defending species, thus expediting the end of the cycle. Only vessels equipped with a reaper IFF are capable of utilizing these relays."

Shepard switched back to the galactic map. A new relay transit line stretched across the galaxy. "According to Mordin's data, there is a relay at Paz that can get us to Ma-at with only one additional transit right here." He highlighted a segment at the very edge of the Milky Way galaxy, outside the furthest reaches of any known relay, far from any marked location on the map.

"Oh, fun!" Kasumi said, breaking the stunned silence. "Do we get to name it? How about Omega Four? Wait, that one's taken, isn't it."

Garrus lowered his head. He'd been aware of Shepard's plan since their return from the Anba. "Does the number '314' have any special significance to anyone else here?"

"I know it's a risk." Shepard paced at the head of the table. "One that has potentially dangerous repercussions. But so is letting Xen take control of the geth. If the fact they're enslaving sentient beings isn't enough, what do you think the Citadel is going to do if the quarians take control? They're not going to change their stance on allowing any culture possessing an AI. How long do you think until we're looking at another war?"

Shepard kept up his stride. "And if the geth win and eradicate the quarians? Tali becomes the last of her kind. Say goodbye to any chance of anyone ever believing the geth want peace again. They'll never recover from it. And no matter what, the Citadel will make damn sure the Alliance takes the blame right when we need everyone to stand together to fight the reapers. So what happens in the next few hours has repercussions far beyond the Perseus Veil. We're the only ones who can stop it. If that isn't enough to convince you, look your two shipmates here in the eye and explain why not. Joker," he called out. "How long until we transit the Paz relay?"

"Ah, twenty-three minutes," Joker replied. "Assuming it's not buried in a giant snowball or something."

"All right people," Shepard said, trying not to think about Joker's remark. If the relay was encased in ice, or lava, or cotton candy they'd know soon enough. "To your stations. Ground team, get suited up and stay close to the the shuttle. We won't know when we'll need you until we do, so be ready."

"Wait," Grunt said as the squad began to file toward the door. "Let me get this straight... We're trying to prevent a fight?"

"I'm afraid so," Shepard said. "But don't worry. Someone will try and stop us. I guarantee it."

Grunt's maniacal laugh filled the room. "I love it when it they try!"

Zaeed shook his head as he rounded the table. "Never pass up a chance to be a big goddamn hero, eh, Shepard?"

"Not that we'll get any credit for it," Jacob said as he followed Zaeed out. "Five'll get you ten it'll just mean fresh charges whenever we get back to Citadel space."

"Virtue is its own reward," Samara said as she passed. "We will not falter as our cause is just."

Kasumi tugged at the sides of cowl. "It is, if you mean just plain crazy. But that's never stopped us before, has it? Once more into the breach, dear friends!"

"Now that's from Shakespeare." Miranda's voice drifted from the hallway. "Except it's 'once more unto the breach.'"

"Miranda, seriously," Jacob said, "put down the red pen, will ya?"

Only Garrus lingered behind. The entire time, the turian trained his focus squarely on Shepard. Facing down Xen at Ma-at didn't bother Garrus in the least. That the powers that kept the galaxy turning on its axis had put them in a situation where his human commander would have to activate an uncharted relay did. Maybe Garrus wasn't the best turian in the Hierarchy, but there were some rules that were in place for a reason, and this one he believed in.

He noticed both Tali and Legion staring back at him, flanking their human commander. Just two days before in the lounge, Shepard had a chance to disentangle himself from the whole mess, and Garrus convinced him to play peacemaker. Now they were all in the middle of it, because of him. The look on Shepard's face was nothing compared to Tali's, who looked as though she was about to collapse where she stood.

Shepard watched him expectantly. "Got something you want to say, Garrus?"

Garrus cleared his throat. "Nothing important. Fleet and Flotilla gets kind of a bum rap. It's hokey, to be sure. Saccharine, even, how it portrays species overcoming their prejudices in the impossible pursuit of happily ever after. Against all odds, against all reason, love and friendship conquer in the end. Not realistic at all."

"No," Shepard said. "It's not."

Garrus found it hard to say anything else. He had been about to argue Citadel protocol with people who meant more to him than anybody else in the entire universe. Modern science could not measure how big of an ass that would have made him. He stomped toward the hatch. "Not that anyone on this ship appreciates it, either. If you'll excuse me, I've got to go clean up the mess left by my friends on the door to my quarters."

Shepard laughed so hard he had to brace himself against the briefing room table. It only intensified when he saw the genuine indignation on the turian's face.

"That was vandalism, Shepard. Pure and simple. And judging by your reaction, you're not going to do a damn thing about it."

Shepard held up his hands. "Hey, chain of command. Take it up with the XO. I had nothing to do with it."

Garrus let loose a deep growl as he stormed through the hatch, which only made Shepard laugh harder.

Tali looked at the empty hatch with confusion. "What was that all about?"

Shepard put his hands on Tali's shoulders. "You need to go check out Garrus's door before he cleans it up. Words can't describe. Legion, level with me. Was that your handiwork again?"

"It was not," Legion said. "Goto-Kasumi approached this unit and indicated that interest in Vakarian-Garrus's appreciation of Fleet and Flotilla was waning amongst the Normandy Collective. Our analysis indicated that further action was unwarranted, but Goto-Kasumi disagreed. We did not encourage her."

"Of course not," Shepard said. "You do not wish to incite."

"That is never our intention," Legion said. "But we did contribute. It is important that we include ourselves in the social activities of the Normandy Collective whenever possible."

"We appreciate your solidarity, Legion," Shepard laughed again, until he saw Tali's confused stare. "Oh, you've got to see it. "

"I guess I've had other things on my mind," Tali said.

Shepard's smile faded immediately.

Tali kept her eyes on Shepard but addressed the geth. "Legion, get down to Engineering. Make sure we're ready for transit. Tell Gabby I'll be down in a minute."

Legion's camera eye panned between the human and quarian. "Acknowledged," it said, and after a brief pause, exited through the hatch.

Tali shut the door behind it and stared at the top of the table. She took a deep breath and paused to collect her thoughts. In spite of the levity of the past few minutes, her voice shook when she spoke. "I'm sorry I got all of you into this. I had no idea all of this was going to happen."

Shepard knew he was in for trouble the instant Tali shut the door. He leaned back against the table so he could look her in the eye. "So this is all your fault now?"

"If I had listened to you. If we had done all of this remotely over comms like you said... None of this would be happening. Keelah, the entire fleet. The entire collective..."

Shepard cut her off. "It's not on you. Any of it. The Admiralty Board was planning for this long before the geth offered to negotiate. We saw how far they were willing to go to make it happen. We beat them at Dashta and it made no difference. The Illusive Man destroyed the Rayya and they're still going through with it. They've been pushing for war from the start. This isn't your fault, no matter how much you want it to be."

Tears streamed down Tali's cheeks as she braced herself against the table. "I don't understand. The more I try to help, the worse it gets and it's my own people working against me. It's like I'm a traitor for wanting to end the war. I'm not, am I? It's killing me inside, Shepard. I don't know how much longer I can do this."

Shepard reached out and put his hand on Tali's shoulder and he slumped against him. Not knowing what else he could do, he put his arm around her.

Tali just stared at the floor. "I don't know how you do it. How do you keep going?"

Shepard let out a long breath. How indeed, he thought. "You want the truth?"

"Please. I can't take any more lies."

"Sometimes, I don't think I should."

Tali looked up at him, eyes wide. "What?"

"It's a waste of time. All of it. I risk my life, all of your lives, over and over and no one cares. I look back at everything that's gone wrong, everyone that's stood in our way, all the people we're trying to save that fight us every step of the way and I think... maybe we don't deserve to be saved. Let the reapers come and scour the galaxy clean, start over. Let the next cycle have their turn. Maybe they'll do better. To hell with trying to stop it. Let's all go party somewhere and wait for the end with drinks in hand."

Tali blinked. Hearing those words come from Shepard's mouth made her forget everything that brought them to this point, and what was waiting for them at Ma-at.

"But then," Shepard turned to her, a small smile on his face. "I remember. For every Saren, there's been a Garrus Vakarian and a Colia Artuis. For every VI that's been programmed to take us out, there's an EDI and a Legion. For every Xen, a Reegar, a Wylo... and a Tali'Zorah vas Normandy."

Tali looked up at Shepard, unable to speak.

"For every Uvenk," Shepard continued, "a Wrex and a Grunt. For every Morinth, a Liara and a Samara. And for every Illusive Man, there's an Anderson and a Hackett. A Chakwas, a Joker..."

Tears welled in Tali's eyes. "And a Shepard."

Shepard laughed and looked away. "Well, I don't know what one of those will get you. Arrest warrants and a shortened life expectancy, maybe. The point is any time I feel like giving up, I think about all of you. And damn if that doesn't make me want to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. How's that for saccharine and sentimental?"

"Pretty silly." Tali managed a smile. "Real Fleet and Flotilla thinking."

"I bet it'd work for you, too."

"It did," Tali said in disbelief. The urge to curl under the table and cry until the crisis was over gone. It was as if Shepard had jacked her suit directly into the ship's Eezo core. "How'd you do that?"

Shepard smiled back at her. "Something about this ship. So, what do you think? Can you get us through this relay?"

"If you think I'm going to let you down after all that, you're crazy."

"Atta girl," Shepard gave Tali a slight squeeze and stood, guiding Tali to the hatch with his arm still around her shoulder.

"Shepard, wait," Tali stopped just before the hatch sensor's pickup range. He turned toward her, his eyebrows arched in expectation. Why was it that when she was alone, she always knew what she would say to him, but when they were face to face, her brain froze up like it was flooded with liquid nitrogen?

"What's up?"

"I-"

"Ten minutes to the relay, Commander," Joker's voice drifted over the PA.

"Be right there," Shepard said, then looked back at Tali, a confused look on his face. "What is it?"

Ten minutes, Tali thought. She had to get down to Engineering to make sure the reactors and Mass Effect generator were all ready for transit. It wasn't just her crew depending on her, but the entire Migrant Fleet and geth collective as well. She patted Shepard on the chest and rushed toward the hatch, simultaneously activating her omnitool to check on the drive status, full of new-found energy. "Never mind, we can talk later."

"Okay then," Shepard said to the empty room. He turned to follow his chief engineer to CIC, but realized the central holo projector was still active. He reached out to the console to switch it off, taking a final look at where two navigational plots converged on Ma-at, a system few cared about or even heard of. One route neatly sliced the Terminus in two, the other ricocheted of an unexplored corner of the galaxy. The only thing that mattered was who got there first.

"Hold the elevator!" Tali scrambled around the corner into CIC to see the lift door close. A human hand blocked its path, and it re-opened. Tali barged in, still looking at her omnitool, barely able to avoid bumping into any of the occupants.

"Oh," Enlea T'Vari groaned as she shifted behind Miranda to keep the Cerberus operative and the other human crew between herself and the quarian. Even without the threat of hostile geth platforms present, she wanted to keep her distance from the Normandy's volatile engineer.

Miranda, however, seemed unfazed. "Deck four?"

"What?" Tali looked up from her omni. "Oh, yes. I- Thank you."

Miranda nodded and watched the level indicator along with everyone else in the lift. A chime sounded, and the door opened to the crew deck. The asari informant slipped hurriedly through the hatch without looking back, but Miranda waited patiently for her crewmates to disembark before walking out herself.

Tali looked up as the Cerberus operative departed. "Miranda?"

Miranda turned, holding the door open. Rarely did the quarian ever address her by her first name, and not Miss Lawson.

"I know you had nothing to do with it," Tali blurted out.

Miranda looked down at the deck. After Jack, Tali had been her main detractor on the ship. The quarian accepted a geth as a shipmate but was never able to drop her hostility toward the human. But then, Legion had done everything it could to prove it was a friend. Could Miranda honestly say the same thing, especially in light of what happened to the Rayya? "We'll get them, Tali," Miranda said with as much conviction as she could muster. "Once we stop Xen... we'll get them all."