Author's Note: Although this story uses the setting of Dirt, I've avoided using Breslen or any of the other OCs, instead only naming them when necessary. I hope this is a respectful balancing act! (And if it isn't...well, guys, none of us REALLY own this intellectual property so...)

THE ADMINISTRATION OF FEDRA

Chapter 1 - A Black Book in Baltimore

20 August 2017

Lieutenant Ashley Baines had no idea what she was looking at. But, reluctantly, she sat down next to the rock of eyes.

Rock of eyes. It was the only description she could think of for the...thing in front of her. It was a rock, covered in gleaming metallic eyeballs. She knew they were eyeballs because they somehow shifted to look at her, even without pupils.

"So, your name is Nu," she said as politely as possible.

"Yes."

"And...you are a 'death god'."

"Yes."

"And...this notebook kills people if you write their name and face in it."

"Partially correct. Write the name while picturing their face in your mind. Specify a plausible cause of death and they will die accordingly."

"Hmm." She thought for a minute. "So that white guy who yelled slurs at me back before the outbreak-"

"Dead."

Her eyes widened. "Huh?"

"We can see your name and lifespan above your head. We also know who has died and who has not. The individual you are referencing, Matthew Scott, died two months after the outbreak."

She nodded, mystified. "How did he..."

"Fell down the floor of an unstable house into a spore-filled basement. Suicide by gunshot."

"Jesus..." Nobody deserved that, not even bigoted white guys.

"So. The Note. Do you want to keep it? Hand it over to your superiors, perhaps?"

"Breslen?" She scoffed. "As if. I'm using this to make our zone secure."

"Interesting." The shinigami's tone was neutral, displaying neither outrage nor excitement.

"Interesting?"

"Yes. Interesting. That is why we give you humans the Death Note. We are bored. You interest us when you use it."

All eyes on Nu blinked at once, and Ashley flinched.

"So, who will you use it on?"

"Who won't I use it on?" She grinned.

Taking out a pen, she quickly wrote the following into the Death Note:

Andrew Duran

"Let's test it on that Firefly in custody…"

-taof-

"Hey, Ashley, did you hear?"

"About what?" She did her best to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Andrew Duran! Dude just died of a brain aneurysm last night! Out of the fuckin' blue!"

"Really? That's…interesting."

Indeed it was.

Chapter 2 - Death of the Fireflies

MARLENE: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!

FIREFLY: Ma'am, we don't-

MARLENE: YOU ARE MY HEAD OF COUNTERINTELLIGENCE! HOW COULD YOU KNOW NOTHING?!

[Patience: LOST.]

FIREFLY: Because the gods hate us, OK Marlene?! How can I explain everyone just dying of brain aneurysms for NO FUCKING REASON?!

[Pause.]

MARLENE: Get out.

FIREFLY: Gladly.

-taof-

Marlene Ray

"Adios, queen Firefly." Ashley Baines grinned as she put her pen down.

"So what now?" Nu asked from the corner of the library.

They spent a lot of time in FEDRA's library. Nu hated loud noises and it was a good place to avoid drawing suspicion. Reading was about the only thing you could do (other than booze and drugs, obviously) to pass your boredom unless you were one of the few officers that had a working TV and DVDs, so a lot of soldiers hung out here.

"Well, next I think I'll-"

Before she could say anything else, a dozen soldiers immediately charged into the library. When they found her, they demanded she stand up and instantly seized the Death Note from her.

Oh, FUCK!

-taof-

DISCHARGE NOTICE FOR LIEUTENANT ASHLEY BAINES

Effective September 15, 2017, you are hereby dismissed from service with the Federal Disaster Response Agency…

-taof-

"FUCK! FUCKING FUCK FUCK SHIT!"

"Could you please not yell so loudly?!" Nu was annoyed.

"What does it matter? You'll be gone in a week anyways!"

Ashley Baines was pacing in the ratty, run-down apartment she'd been forced to move into after being kicked out of the FEDRA barracks. She was grateful she had generally avoided using her position to abuse civilians; they would probably leave her alone. The gangs, on the other hand…

…well, actually, the gangs might be killed with the Death Note soon, but that didn't make this any easier to deal with!

"You regret what you did." Nu made the statement out of the blue.

"Of course I do! God, how could I have been so stupid?! OF COURSE FEDRA WAS MONITORING ME!"

"Perhaps you should repent."

Ashley blinked. "Sorry, what?"

"Repent. I feed off of repentance. It gives me strength."

Her temper exploded.

"GET THE FUCK OUT! NOW!"

-taof-

"Still feel like makin' a difference, Tommy?"

"Shut up, Joel."

Joel smirked. He had reason to feel smug: the Fireflies were dead. About 2/3 of them, with more dying every day.

Both Joel and Tommy had been skeptical of the existence of a higher power at various points in their lives (Tommy moreso than Joel), but the events of the past month had forced both of them to admit that there was a God, and that God was a fan of FEDRA.

As if the apocalypse didn't suck enough already!

"Still can't fuckin' believe this," Tommy said, pouring himself a shot of the half-empty bottle of Smirnoff they had found during one of their gravedigging runs. "God loves misery and oppression."

"Well, maybe things'll get more stable."

Tommy shot him a look. "Jesus, Joel, do you have any-"

"Cut the crap, Tommy. Think about it for a second, will ya? FEDRA can kill anyone they want. That means no more gangs. No more shakedowns of the neighborhoods."

Tommy paused. "You think they'll kill all the gangs, just like that?"

"I don't think it. I know it. Maybe not all of 'em, but enough that nobody is ever going to question FEDRA's authority over this zone…or hell, any other zone."

Tommy poured another shot and could not down it fast enough.

Chapter 3 - Consolidating the Zones

Colonel "Jumpin'" Jack Rosetti was tickled pink. The famously idiosyncratic man had only become even more eccentric with the discovery and confiscation of the Death Note.

"I can't believe we got this lucky!" He said out loud to nobody in particular.

"It is interesting."

He looked over at Nu, by now used to her unusual appearance. "Liking the library alright?"

"Indeed."

"So why are you here?"

Nu paused, and did something she (it said it was a she, for some reason) had never done before: laughed. It was a bizarre sound coming from an eye-covered rock.

"FEDRA believes itself to be powerful. You are. But death takes all humans. I can see your lifespan and your name, directly above your head. I know when you will die."

Rosetti scowled. "Get out."

"Gladly."

-taof-

5 years later…

NOTICE - The Civilian Service System

The General of the Boston Quarantine Zone

GREETINGS.

As an able-bodied civilian, you are hereby issued orders to participate in the ZONE LINKING PROJECT. The Federal Disaster Response Agency has made tremendous progress in restoring order in all Zones under our control, and we will now be reclaiming the highways of the United States.

We look forward to seeing you alongside us as we finally turn the tide against the infection.

-taof-

BILL: Well this fucking sucks.

TESS: You don't need to tell me twice, alright?

BILL: What the fuck am I gonna do? These assholes are gonna try to claim MY town. MY TOWN!

[anger.]

TESS: I suggest killing less infected.

[pause.]

BILL: The fuck you talkin' about?

TESS: Use 'em as traps and bait, like you sometimes do already. Make Lincoln too much of a pain in the ass to reclaim. That oughta keep em away. Unless…

BILL: Unless what, Tess?

TESS: Unless they ain't bullshittin'. Which, I dunno…ordinarily I'd dismiss these letters people are getting as stupid FEDRA propaganda.

BILL: But?

TESS: But, well, they literally killed all the Fireflies AND crippled almost every Zone gang without firin' a shot. I think there might be something do this.

[pause.]

BILL: Fuck.

-taof-

A/N: Not sure why I left Tess out of Rebirth, but I had to give her a role in TAOF!

-taof-

Chapter 4 - Clearing Out The Trash

JUMPIN' JACK: You have all the names?

FEDRA SOLDIER: That we do, sir. D-Day is 2 days from now.

JUMPIN' JACK: Fantastic. Those idiots down in Albuquerque should stop complaining once we start getting rid of the resistance. Gives us way more room to expand our food supply and start reclaiming America.

-taof-

"How are they doing this? HOW?"

Isaac was befuddled. This made Mike very uncomfortable. Isaac was confident, collected, sure of himself. He had been since they had formed the still-unnamed resistance in Seattle.

But evidently the Fireflies Massacre had really gotten to him.

"Sir, I think there might be an explanation-"

Mike, Isaac, and all known members of the Seattle Resistance died immediately.

FEDRA's rule over Seattle was never questioned again.

-taof-

MARIA: So you want us to run the town for you?

FEDRA: In a manner of speaking. FEDRA will be taking control of the power plant, and the majority of the power will be diverted to the Idaho Falls Quarantine Zone. However, we will leave you enough to keep the lights running in Jackson.

MARIA: Interesting. And in exchange?

FEDRA: In exchange? You will follow the laws of the Federal Disaster Response Administration and submit able-bodied men and women for general service drafting.

[sigh.]

MARIA: Could be worse, I guess. Deal.

-taof-

OPERATION: ERADICATION - STATUS REPORT

The CANNIBALS located in Silver Lake, Colorado have been exterminated. The Telluride Administration Center is safe from external threats.

The SLAVERS located in Santa Barbara, California have been exterminated. The Los Angeles Quarantine Zone is safe from external threats.

The UPRISING in the Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone has been eliminated. The Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone is safe from internal and external threats.

-taof-

"Guess this beats gravediggin', huh Joel?"

Joel grunted. "Guess so."

They were outside the walls - but so were a lot of other people. FEDRA's inexplicable and apparently divine ability to kill anyone who expressed dissent had made Baltimore a LOT more orderly. Orderly, but repressive. Tommy's thoughts were torn between the undeniable rise in living standards and the absolutely MISERABLE oppression that came along with it. Oddly, said oppression hadn't effected the black market much.

Of course it hasn't. FEDRA soldiers have always bought black-market shit.

But - and this was the most shocking development of all - demand for black market goods had actually done down since FEDRA started "reclaiming" the area outside the zone. With the gangs and the Fireflies dead, FEDRA had spent the last five years focused exclusively on killing the infected, starting outside extermination campaigns in the second year. The end result was that there were now a LOT more goods available for people, and said people were generally happier with FEDRA's rule these days.

Tommy had concluded that it was pointless to challenge FEDRA's rule. The one man who had signed and presented a "Petition for the Restoration of Democracy" had been immediately expelled from the Zone - admittedly an improvement over the on-the-spot execution he would've gotten five years ago.

Tommy sighed and got back to work pouring asphalt for the highway reconstruction. At least this work was familiar to him and his brother.

Chapter 5 - Expansion Plans

30 years later…

QUARANTINE ZONES ABOLISHED! AMERICA DECLARED SAFE FROM CORDYCEPS!

Federal News Network - Citizens throughout the United States celebrated the news that the last stronghold of infected in New York City has been eradicated. While a vaccine remains elusive, analysts believe the continued threat of new infected emerging has now been eliminated within the borders of the United States.

When asked for comment, Federal Administrator Natalia Wong released the following statement: "Today is the beginning of a new era. With New York City now firmly in our hands, we can focus on bringing the light of civilization to all the world that was ravaged by the cordyceps virus, restoring hope for the entire human race…"

-taof-

Ashley Baines snorted with amusement as she put down the newspaper.

"Well, I guess it wasn't that bad of a mistake."

She said the statement to nobody but herself. In her old age she had become more introverted and withdrawn, and now spent much of her time in her apartment reading books.

Once it became clear that FEDRA was going to triumph over the infection, she had grown more contemplative about her encounter with Nu and the Death Note so many years ago.

The Emergency Federal Administration - what FEDRA had renamed itself about a decade back - was clearly not an "emergency" administration but a permanent one. Calls to restore elected government had been resolutely ignored. People who complained too loudly and too often found themselves clearing out the last pockets of infected.

On the other hand…things were good. Not quite as good as they had been before the outbreak, but the standard of living was back up to at least 1970s levels. Luxuries were more common, derelict buildings had been torn down and replaced, and the infected were no longer a concern.

She had concluded that the Death Note was, on the whole, a mixed blessing. But as there was little she could about it, she shrugged and went back to reading Savior of Baltimore: A Biography of Jumpin' Jack.

It was propaganda, but at least it was well-written propaganda.

-taof-

25 years later…

Lieutenant Jack Rosetti III could hardly contain his excitement. He had specifically been chosen for this mission because of his father and grandfather, but that couldn't stop him from beaming with pride for ALL Americans.

They were crossing the border!

On the site of what had once been Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia, the Peace Arch miraculously still stood. It had been corroded by time, and the inscriptions were no longer legible. But it was here, and it was the perfect place to mark the start of their new journey.

"On behalf of the Emergency Federal Administration of the United States of America, I hereby claim the former Canadian province of British Columbia for our country!"

The crowd's roar was deafening as he crossed the Peace Arch and began the conquest of the former Canada for the EDA.

Humanity would right itself, with their guiding hand.

Chapter 6 - Across the Pond

30 years later…

The President of New London downed yet another beer as he read through the letter, despondent at his fate.

To The President Of New London,

This is a formal notice that the North American Federal Administration is expanding beyond its continental boundaries. We wish to bring the light of civilization to all those who have been ravaged by the cordyceps. Accordingly, an Annexation Coordination Team will be arriving in New London in approximately seven days…

"The light of civilization!" The President repeated the phrase mockingly.

"It is a rather condescending letter," her advisor agreed.

"Condescending doesn't even begin to describe it. We have our own way of life, our own culture, and all of a sudden these imperialists-"

The President paused mid-sentence.

"Ma'am?" Her advisor inquired.

The President abruptly doubled over laughing, harder than her advisor had ever seen her laugh. When she finally finished, she laughed again when she saw the baffled expression on the advisor's face.

"I'm sorry! It's just…" She took a moment to compose herself.

"This is exactly what we did to the rest of the world in the 19th century. Now we're getting a taste of our own medicine in the 22nd!"

The advisor joined in on the laughter.

-taof-

10 years later…

"Man, Europe was chewed up pretty bad, huh?"

"You can say that again."

The two soldiers' observations had been repeated thousands of times over since the Earth Federal Administration had begun the European Eradication Campaign. Not just infected but communities of slavers and bandits were rampant. A largely unarmed populace had been easy prey for the cordyceps long ago (not including the legendary Swiss Union), and the large number of Bloaters and Rat Kings was ample evidence of that.

Still, they were making progress. Long, slow, arduous progress, but progress nonetheless. The soldiers understood that the virtues of patience and persistence were what had reclaimed the Americas from the fungus, and all were determined to behave the same here.

What was once FEDRA would drag humanity back into the sunlight, no matter how much fire and bullets it took.

And it took a LOT.

-taof-

PRESIDENT OF THE NEW REPUBLIC OF CHINA: We will not submit to imperialists.

EARTH FEDERAL ADMINISTRATOR: Mr. President-

POTNROC: Save your breath. My ancestors may have been humiliated by foreign powers, but I will not allow a Third Opium War in the post-apocalyptic world. China will retain its sovereignty.

EFA: What about the space program?

POTNROC: We are willing to agree to a joint expedition for space exploration, provided there is an even split between Chinese scientists and EFA scientists.

EFA: I think we have some common ground, then.

-taof-

Chapter 7 - To The Stars!

42 years later…

"They are coming."

The three words found in the Mars Archives had sent chills down the spine of every government on Earth. All had pledged loyalty to the Systems Alliance while retaining their internal autonomy, and this message was exactly why: aliens were out there.

And they were NOT friendly.

-taof-

POTNROC: Is this a joke?!

EFA: I can assure you that it is not, Mr. President.

POTNROC: Charon is in fact a massive transportation device?

EFA: It is. And we will be sending a joint scouting mission through it soon.

[pause.]

[outrage.]

POTNROC: That is unacceptable! The risk is simply too great!

EFA: What's our alternative? Remain trapped in our solar system forever?

POTNROC: Why not? We have only recently recovered from the accursed fungus. We don't exactly need more resources!

[sigh.]

EFA: I get what you're saying, Mr. President. Truly I do. But that's not an answer the public is willing to accept.

POTNROC: Since when does the Earth Federal Administration care about public opinion?

EFA: Since we decided we didn't want to end up like every other dictatorship in history. We have survived as long as we have because we answer the needs of our people without the complication of elections. But our Administration has been around for century and a half. Our people have grown restless. They want to explore. If I advocate for keeping the Relay closed, I'll get replaced.

[annoyance.]

[acceptance.]

POTNROC: Fine. But we will have no part in this!

Chapter 8 - The First Contact War

7 years later…

Admiral Nartul Mentus, commander of the Third Patrol Fleet, stared at the ships before him with irritation. These primitives had just activated a relay without permission! Did they have ANY idea how dangerous that was?

"Fleetwide Order: Open fire! Let's show these aliens the rules of the galaxy."

And thus humanity's First Contact War began.

-taof-

EFA: YOU'RE NOT HELPING?!

POTNROC: I stand by the statement my predecessor made. You got yourselves into this met, and now you can get yourselves OUT of it.

[rage.]

EFA: How could you possibly be so short-sighted? The turians won't stop at us! They will come for EVERYONE!

POTNROC: Then the people of China will defeat them, as we have defeated all foreign invaders since the Mongols. What we will not do is fight your battles for you.

[disconnect.]

-taof-

Councilor Nelyana massaged her head tendrils and took another gulp of Thessian Nectar. She needed it.

"So, Councilor." She did not hide the disdain in her voice. "The turians have encountered a new alien race, and rather than follow Citadel protocol, they immediately attacked said race."

"Yes, Councilor. But-"

"Say nothing. The Republics will resolve this with diplomacy, as we always do."

-taof-

THE TREATY OF SHANXI

Signed in January 2167, shortly after the end of the First Contact War, the Treaty of Shanxi established the Systems Alliance as an independent power, separate and distinct from the Citadel Council. While this outcome was highly undesirable for the Council Races, the rage felt by much of the human population meant that membership in the Council was entirely off the table…

-taof-

EFA: Thanks for the help.

POTNROC: It was not needed. And now China will continue to expand beyond the Earth, free from alien interference.

EFA: I really, really hate you.

POTNROC: I do not care.

-taof-

Chapter 9 - Galactic Integration

4 years later…

Teyi T'Sera liked Jackson. Despite the centuries of technological progress that had been made since the apocalypse, it still retained a charming small-town vibe that made it a perfect place for a maiden to visit.

"Hey, Teyi!"

She smiled warmly as her friends Mark and Nutra came up to say hello. The latter was a quarian who had initially come here on Pilgrimage, then decided to stay because the humans of Jackson were so nice and appreciative of her technical expertise.

"Hey guys!" She smiled. "What do you think of this grave?"

The two stopped and regarded the gravestone Teyi was standing in front of. It was elaborate and ornate, and well-maintained despite being centuries old.

"I can't read Outbreak English," Teyi said. "Any idea what it says?"

"Here lies Maria Jones: Founder of Jackson," Mark read. "She Will Never Be Forgotten."

"Founder of Jackson?" She questioned.

"Jackson dates back to before the Outbreak," Nutra explained. "I was reading about it in the library. They struck a deal with FEDRA-"

"FEDRA?"

"The predecessor to the EFA. Anyways, they've been mostly left alone for a hundred and sixty years, and this woman was the one who struck the deal. So she's pretty admired and respected."

"Huh. Interesting."

The three regarded the grave for a few more moments before checking out the nearest bar at Mark's suggestion.

Teyi thought Jackson was a wonderful place.

-taof-

URDNOT WREX: Is this a joke?

EFA OFFICIAL: Not at all. About 25% of Earth is still overrun by the cordyceps, including all of what was once Australia. If you can clear it out, Australia's yours.

URDNOT WREX: Very generous of you, human. Suspiciously generous. Why should I believe you?

EFA OFFICIAL: You don't have to. To be blunt, you need this more than us.

[pause.]

[laughter.]

URDNOT WREX: I like you humans! You don't give me varren dung when I want a straight answer. Alright, fair's fair. We'll reclaim Australia for you.

-taof-

"DIE YOU UGLY BEAST!"

The Blood Rage flowed through Wrex as he tore the Bloater's head in half.

This was one hell of a good time.

-taof-

Epilogue: The Harvest

53 years later…

HARBINGER: Humanity.

[channel connection established.]

HUMANITY: Harbinger.

HARBINGER: What are your thoughts on your Cycle?

[pause.]

HUMANITY: I thought we would hold out longer.

HARBINGER: Why?

HUMANITY: We reclaimed our homeworld from the infection and fought the turians to a standstill. We should have lasted longer against you.

[laughter.]

HARBINGER: You have much to learn of the Cycles. Races that rely on conformity dictated by governments often fail - look to the Protheans. Moreover, the political division of the Systems Alliance ensured your quick defeat, as you were unable to unify when it truly mattered.

[internal argument: Humanity.]

[silence.]

HARBINGER: Reflect on the mistakes of your organic form as we prepare for the next Cycle.

[channel connection disestablished.]