Convincing the remaining crew on the Normandy had been simple enough. After their mission through the Omega 4 relay, the now ex-Cerberus crew quickly declared their dedication to Shepard. Initially they were all prepared to go into Alliance custody once they returned to Earth but were more than thrilled to discover that their Commander had no such intentions. When he presented his plans to the crew, Kenneth shouted "well we bloody well can't stay here after giving Cerberus the middle finger, can we?"

The Normandy rested in one of Illium's orbital dockyards as it underwent upgrades for the journey ahead. While the crew went groundside for likely the last shore leave they'd get in a while, Shepard sat in Liara's now vacant brokerage office with Garrus and Dr Chakwas. The three of them were hard at work getting in touch with contacts from the Alliance, C-Sec, and the Turian Hierarchy. The Initiative had several brilliant minds in its employ already and had been greatly expanded since Liara became the new Benefactor, but both him and Liara agreed that due to the limited population that could be brought over as many experienced officers and medical professionals should be convinced to join as well.

Finishing yet another email – this time to a Captain he trained with back in Rio – the hologram terminal to the side of the room suddenly began bleeping. When both Garrus and the doctor shrugged at him, he stood up from his temporary desk and hit the glowing accept button. A somewhat sour look from Admiral Hackett greeted him.

"Commander,"

"Admiral,"

"Would you care to explain why several high-ranking alliance officials are dropping off the grid like flies? Commanders, Captains, hell even an Admiral. What game are you playing at, Shepard?"

"Sir, you saw the readings from Aratoht. I'm pursuing an alternative contingency plan."

"Immediately after I debriefed you we began mobilising the fleets. Stealing our officers will severely inhibit our ability to fight back. You're potentially sabotaging the entire future war effort. I'm receiving similar reports from C-Sec and even a few from the Hierarchy. This has to stop Shepard."

"I'm afraid I can't do that sir," Shepard stood tall, refusing to back down, "You could still join us, you'd be a tremendous asset to us."

"I'm not abandoning humanity, Shepard. It's clear that you have."

"Discharge me, I don't care," he itched closer to the recording, "I'm saving as many as I can. The Alliance is doomed. If you're staying behind you should start putting serious funding into your own contingencies."

The Admiral grunted, but simply nodded before cutting the connection. Shepard sighed, he wanted nothing more than to bring Hackett to Andromeda. It wasn't going to eventuate. With great disappointment he returned to his desk. There was work to be done.

Alec Ryder relaxed at the bar 'Casablanca', drinking a light beer while pondering about this mysterious Benefactor. A few months ago and the Andromeda Initiative was on the brink of collapse. There was no money, no resources, no support from any major political or economic entity. Only a dream kept the project going. Then, out of nowhere, this 'Benefactor' showed up and all but wrote them a blank check. Technology, personnel, finance, anything they asked for was provided instantaneously. The Initiative was finally taking shape, on a grander level than anyone had anticipated to begin with.

Now? The entire project had been moved to the Faryar System in the Hourglass Nebula; the relay guarded by a reasonably sized mercenary force. Of course, now obscured from the rest of the galaxy, the Initiative had acquired a shroud of secrecy. The Benefactor had expressed support for his AI projects, even going so far as to promise him that he'd soon be able to interact with an existing AI.

Ryder pushed aside his musings as the Turian he had been waiting for finally walked into the bar and took a seat opposite him. It was the first time Alec had ever seen Castis Vakarian out of his C-Sec uniform.

"Vakarian, you look good in civies. What convinced you to turn the badge in and join us? Whenever I offered you didn't seem enthusiastic."

"It's my son."

"Garrus? Last I heard he'd disappeared."

"Ran off to Omega and managed to piss off every single merc group," the elder Vakarian casually stated with a hint of pride, "He's been running with Shepard since the beginning. He personally put that traitor Saren down. Now he comes home and takes me out for a drink. Tells me about these Reapers and has the evidence to back it up. Vera and Solana took a lot more convincing but they relented in the end."

"Here's to our kids," Ryder offered with a chuckle, "May they keep showing us up."

"Cheers"

"Wait you said he's running with Shepard?"

"They're like brothers"

"That must mean- Shepard's coming with us?"

"Not so loud Alec! There's going to be an announcement soon, some big reveal or whatever"

The ex-Alliance marine grunted and the two old friends finished their drinks in silence. The plot thickened.

"Ma'am with all due respect, you only just-"

"Reegar just listen to me. I need you to get into contact with these people and hand them these data discs. You've seen what's at stake"

"But this is crazy! We can't just-"

"Kal I don't have much time, the Admiralty Board can't know I'm here. I only have a limited window to retrieve our data on- damn it they've found my ship."

"I'll get it done Tali, meet me at these coordinates when you're ready and I'll get us out of here."

"Appreciated, I'll be as quick as I can"

Tali activated a tactical cloak just as a small squad of marines jogged past her location. Giving a silent thanks to Kasumi for letting her borrow an older model the Quarian started running towards the main computer.

General Adrian Victus sat back in his chair digesting the information that had been brought to him. Opposite him sat Garrus Vakarian; the son of a close friend brandishing a horrific battle scar. Castis would be proud. He shook his head and returned his focus to the matter at hand. He wished he hadn't.

Instinct grilled into him since boyhood told him to have Vakarian arrested, report the matter to the Hierarchy, and await battle with these 'Reapers'. A more sensible part of him prevented him, instead leaving him seriously considering defecting from the Hierarchy. He was loyal to the Turians and their Hierarchy, yes but it was becoming increasingly clear that loyalty to the latter would doom the former. If the Turians were to survive, they had to go to Andromeda.

Damn it.

He knew there had been some huge cover-up at the citadel after the Geth- no, after the Reaper attack. He knew something had happened with human colonies. Yes, seeing everything put together like this… It was very concerning.

"I don't want to believe you Garrus"

"But you do"

"Yes"

The younger Turian was courteous to permit him another quiet ponder. Damn it. Damn it all! Damn these blasted machines, damn the Citadel for being so blind, damn the inevitability of it all!

Except defeat wasn't inevitable, was it? Turian doctrine clearly stated that retreat is preferable to the annihilation of a unit. That what their options were. Retreat or extermination. This wouldn't be a surrender; it would be a tactical withdrawal which would ensure the continuation of the Turian race. Yes, yes… maybe it would be doable after all. Making up his mind he immediately pulled out his private terminal and started typing away.

"I have a few conditions, Vakarian. Firstly, my entire family is granted passage. Secondly, my entire regiment plus their immediate families will be as well. Within the week we will arrive in whatever system you tell me in the cruiser Menae. I'll bring as many supplies as we can carry. If I'm participating in this Initiative I'm sure as hell making sure you get as much aid as possible."