Gundam belongs to Bandai. Mass Effect to EA. Star Trek to Viacom. I own none of the material mentioned here.


0121.07.20

Chentari System - Quipla

Abandoned Turian Military Bunker

Alexia Van Numenberg'Quipla

Alexia sat down as he looked towards those that had survived the crash landing of the Numenberg'Quipla. He had managed to secure some two hundred of the origional thousand Quarians that had been on the Numenberg'Quipla and direct them beneath the planet into the old mining caves.

Thankfully, there was enough supplies that could be scavenged from the wreck before the Batarians blew it up to gather what they needed and fled beneath the earth. Now, he sat before what remained of his crew. Many would not survive the coming days in fact. His eyes, from within his helmet, glanced over the wounded or dying.

They had supplies, food, medication, but they didn't have a way off this rock. Though he felt a hand on his shoulder, finding the young Tali as she stood beside him.

"It is going to be ok..we are going to make it through this."

What wasn't said was how angry the vast majority of the surviving crew were. Not at their captain, but at the pirates that pushed them into this situation in the first place. The fact of the matter was, that they had opened a dormant Relay to survive the attack by the Batarians.

Now they were tapped beneath the surface of the world. Alexia however jerked out of his sadness as a pair of Migrant Marines rushed into view of himself and the other survivors.

"Captain, we've found something you need to see, we think it is Turian."

Well that caught their attention, not just Alexia's own. Even Tali seemed to perk up and followed. While most of the Quarians continued to sit in silence around the Chamber. Alexia spoke up a few seconds later.

"What did you find Alom, Tavi? Are you sure it is Turian?"

The two nodded seemingly at once as the group of four moved through one natural tunnel after another, before Alexia noticed a significant change in the shape of the walls, floor, and ceiling. It looked less natural and more artificial.

"The metal working and scans put it near the end of the Krogan Rebellions. It is currently without power but, with the way the Turians of that age built things, the systems should only need minor repairs before we can bring the complex back online entirely."

Well that was actually a lot of good news for them. If they could use that, they could find an actual place to hold up and, if the systems were operational, they could potentially get in contact with the Fleet or even the Council. Even if most Quarians preferred not to touch that last one. Tali spoke up as they walked down another tunnel, before stopping. They stood before a metallic door of some kind, the symbol of the Hierarchy embedded into the center of the door.

"Keelah, I recognize this configuration. It's an old Model 12 that the Turians used in their bunker designs. So this is actually a Bunker of some kind."

Without waiting for the others, Tali stepped up to the now dark key pad, pulling out her Omni-Tool and loading in several custom systems that she used to jumpstart the power in the pad itself. A Hack Drone quickly entering the ancient system and starting to rewrite the coding. With a hiss and a groan, the center of the door rolled till the symbol in its center was upside down.

With several clicks, the two sides pulled back and started to open before the power died once again. Thankfully it opened wide enough to allow a Quarian to slip through.


0121.07.20

Chentari System - Quipla

Abandoned Turian Military Bunker

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya

As always, Tali was inquisitive, and to the point that it was dangerous towards other. As she opened the ancient door and stepped inside, the pitch blackness swallowed her vision before and behind her.

Several blinks caused her H.U.D. to turn on before the shoulder mounted flashlight unfolded and shown into the dead air. Dust which had laid on the ground for centuries were disrupted and disturbed by the limited atmosphere that Quipla was able to provide.

The air was stagnant from the bunker being sealed for a century or more and its power dead. So it was that she roamed her light across the surrounding walls, revealing stark metal slabs of pre-fabricated materials. Looking up, she found however that the ceiling was not made of metal, leaving the stone visible.

"You all can stop hiding. We need to find the power generator here and reactivate it."

Alexia was the first through, his own shoulder light activating before the two Marines followed suit in the same way. Illuminating the rather large chamber.

The chamber itself stretched for some tens of meters before branching into three different tunnels. The left one went upwards, the right downwards, and the center kept going straight.

"Alom, take the left, Tav to the right, Tali, you and I will move down the center. These walls are presumably too thick for us to keep in contact. If either of you reach a dead end or branching tunnels, turn back and return here. The same goes for us. We can't take the risk of getting lost in these mazes the Turians are so fond of."

At least Alexia was taking charge as the two marines salutes and moved to their respective tunnels, leaving her and Alexia alone. Turning she cleared her throat as Alexia started to walk down the bunker tunnel.

"Captain.. what are you planning?"

Alexia would turn his attention towards her as they started to walk down the path into the depths of the bunker complex. The walls were decorated with large conduits and pipes that led deeper into the complex and Turian wording to direct those inside the complex towards areas.

"Well after we get this complex as I said we can try and get in touch with the Fleet or the Council. Even if they don't wish to or able to save us, the Pirates and Slavers in this system pose a major threat, and if they can effectively crush it, they'd own the Migrant Fleet for tipping them off to this threat after all."

The Captain slowly wandered about as they followed the directional signs above them, from one corridor to the next.

As the two of them move down the corridor, they found that it branched off into two different directions once again, but given the signs above they continued forward. Said signs pointing to the left corridor "Mess Hall". Two corridors leading to the right went in diagonal directions. The first with a sign that says "Reactor", the second one saying "Armory". However, Alexia would hold up a hand to bring the two of them to a stop.

"Hold on Tali, got to check in with Alom and Tay."

His Omni-Tool activated, casting more light beyond just their shoulder lamps to light up the corridor.

"Alom, Tay, report in. What have you been able to find?"

It took a few seconds before they got a reply.

"Alom here Captain. Reading you loud and clear, strangely enough. I've reached a closed door, but it appears to lead to a vehicle bay of some kind. Over."

"Tay checking in. I'm getting you all loud and clear, this place really is a maze. I've set a Drone to map the complex. I've reached the Barracks, most of the supplies were left in place, so we'll have actual beds. Over."

Beds, that sounded wonderful. Maybe they even have showers of some kind, their suits could use a top up on waste removal fluid. Alexia would reply to the two a few seconds later after the reports are delivered.

"Alom, return to the main chamber and begin escorting the other survivors here."

He received a com cut as an adherence of his order.

"Tay, return to the entrance and move to cover the entrance of the Bunker. See you all when this place is lit again."

With a cut com, he turned back towards Tali before nodding as the two started moving once again down the pathway. However given that this place was built by the Turians, they ensured that it was up to military standards and as such, they built choke points, fallback positions, backup chambers of all important assets needed for a Bunker, and several Command centers.

As they wandered, taking several dozen different turns, it would be half an hour before they finally came upon their destination. The room beyond the entrance sported a single bridge way over two sides that are sunk into the ground. Ramps allowing personnel to enter and exit these sunken sectors of the command center.

The walls of the circular room was covered in deactivated machines, multiple panels which at one point held information and reports from the Krogan Rebellion were non-responsive at the moment. The ceiling was supported by several pillars of Spaceship grade armor to ensure it wouldn't collapse in on those below. Tali nodded as she crossed her arms, inspecting the rather large room.

"Well, I can safely say that the Turians know what they were doing when they built this place. Captain, I'm going to start working on bringing the Reactor online again."

With a nod from the good Captain, Tali moved towards the largest consuls in the chamber and began looking for an emergency override system embedded into the wall. A few minutes later, under the watchful eyes of the Captain, she found the large and heavy switch. Upon finding it, Tali turned back towards Alexi with a simple nod from him.

"Do it Tali."

With a grin, hidden within her helmet, she pulled down, with both hands, on the switch. She could feel and hear the steady humming of energy rushing back after centuries of disuse. Lights began to brighten across consuls and holographic screens flared to life. Tali threw her arms into the air with a grin.

"We have power!"


0121.07.20

Chentari System - Quipla

Quarian occupied Turian Military Bunker

Alexia Van Numenberg'Quipla

Hearing the joy in Tali's voice brought some measure of relief to Alexia as he watched lights flicker on and his shoulder lamp deactivate upon his suit detecting light surrounding him. This was the first good news they'd had in some time and even now, as he connected his Omni-Tool to the complex, he could see the old systems were barely able to resist his intrusion.

"Tali, let's see if we can't get some schematics on this place before we do anything else. I want you to stay here and keep working while I go and check up on the others."

Tali, too engrossed in going over the data that was now filtering into her Omni-Tool from the reviving complex. With a shake of his head, Alexia would turn and start back on the path they took to arrive in the first place.

Half an hour passed before Alexia returned to the entrance. The several hundred Quarians were being brought into the complex already, escorted by the surviving Marines. Those too wounded to walk were carried by their fellows towards the barracks.

However, Alexia would grab one of the passing Engineers and pull them aside before whispering to them.

"Abentha I need you to move ahead of the others and seal the Barracks, prep a Bacterial Cleansing Drone and place it in there. We will have to remove most of these suits to get at the major wounds."

Abentha, wearing a silver Quarian Suit, nodded, the Engineer sadly having gone mute when he was younger due to a suit breach and an infection. Abentha ran ahead of the ground and cut off the first few Quarians, before moving into the room.

Alexia would look through the crowd before grabbing two others, both with red triangles on their shoulders, signifying them to being medics.

"Yuna, Beba, I want you two on stand by while the Barracks are sanitized, then prepare your surgical equipment and move to the medical bay. Sanitize that as well. I will have our wounded moved to there. Prep for surgery and long hours. I can have staff relieve you every twelve "Parss" but no more then that. I need every able bodied Quarian on their feet if we are to survive long enough for the Migrant Fleet to find and get us home."

Yuna nodded and left but Beba stayed still for a few seconds.

"Captain..are you even sure the Fleet is coming? Wouldn't they have come already if they planned to?"

This caused Alexia to sigh and grimmace as he placed both hands on her shoulder.

"To be truthful...I don't think they will come. With our activating a Dormant Relay, the stigma towards Quarians, and our already dwindling populations.. I don't think the Fleet will risk lives for just one ship. I hope, no, I pray, that I am wrong, but I think we may be on our own. If we aren't able to make contact with either the Council or the Migrant Fleet...then I suggest we hold here, we make the Pirates pay in blood for every one of us they killed."

Beba would shrink slightly, she no older then twenty. Yet she understood the situation. Sooner or later, he would have to explain it to the rest of them, and Alexia was not looking forward to that in the slightest. Turning his head, he watched the last of the Quarians enter into the bunker, the Marines taking up the rear with every scrap of salvaged supplies they could gather.

"Alright everyone! Close up that door, seal and lock it. No one goes in or out of this bunker until we can get a head count, rest, recover, and start making plans!"

A pair of engineers nodded as they started fiddling with the door to the Bunker, introducing new coding into its mechanical lock, causing the heavy blast door to slide back into place and lock down. With a hiss and a billow of dust, the four foot thick starship grade metal door locked into place as the Quarians at the entrance released quite a bit of tension from their bodies.

Alexia would activate the Shadow Frequency and connect to the suits of all surviving Quarians. There were no other ones outside of the Bunker, he had pulled up suit vitals already, all those not accounted for were outside and flatlined.

"For now..this is home I suppose. Let's get something to eat and drink. we are going to try and recover before we decide on a new course of action. Thank you all for your aid in this trying of time. Rest, sleep, eat, wash, we are safe for the time being."

But for how long? He could not say.


0121.08.04

Serpent Nebula - Citadel

Council Chamber

Sparatus

Today was shaping up to be far from a very enjoyable day for the Councilor when he received an unexpected message from Palaven and a few seconds later, a request to meet in the Council Chambers by Tevos. Deciding to deal with the council first, he shuntered away the message from Palaven and turned.

Currently, he was just entering into the large Council Chambers, the glass bottom showing what looked like plants and vegetation, which was accurate, all things considered.

Below them was a miniature forest of some wonder, plant life taken from all over the galaxy, and grown around one another. Monitored by grounds keepers. Sparatus himself was a former military man, his face supporting the white tribal stripes of his Legion before he went into politics, several scars marred his chitinous exo-skeleton that all Turians sported.

Wearing the robes of a Counciler, matched in style by Valern and Tevos as well, both the Salarian and the Asari sporting white tribal markings like his own. Tervos is the first to comment upon his arrival.

"Oh so good of you to arrive Sparatus, we have several items to discuss and we wanted to wait for you."

Well that never bode well. He did admire his fellows, but as a military minded man, he knew that both of them lacked the necessary information needed to properly appreciate or understand military matters. Then again, they have only ever seen reports of pirate raids.

There hadn't been a true conflict since the Krogan Rebellions. Something he and many of the higher ranking members of the Turians felt was dulling their entire species. This coupled with the fact that they had been brought into the fold to fight a war, then left as over glorified guard dogs, had chaffed many Turian Councilors since. Sparatus would shake his head at that thought.

"So what is this about exactly? More activity in the Terminus? We have several fleets guarding the Relays to ensure that Pirates or the Terminus Warlords can't enter our systems without warning."

He didn't even sigh out. Though his mood changed when the middle of the room darkened and a hologram took up the full attention of all three. It started with an Asari running down an alley way while the sound of Mass Effect fire echoed behind. A haggard voice cried out on the video.

"If anyone can hear this, please. Our planet is being attacked by Pirates. They came out of no where! I hear they tore the defense ships apart then rushed towards the planet. They are capturing everyone they can see!"

The video paused there as the frame froze on the end of the alley, a Krogan standing there, Blood Pack armor covered his body. In his claws is a large gun of some kind, smoke surrounding the mouth of the barrel as a net flies towards the asari would speak up.

"This is the eighth invasion in the last two months...all civilians, close to a quarter million, were taken. Half a million killed fighting back. These attacks aren't on fringe worlds near the Terminus, this was on the edge of Council Space and the Empty Sector. A Warlord has found a way to bypass the Turian Fleets and set up shop somewhere we thought impossible. I've had STG look through recordings of the force from the multiple raids."

Well leave it to the Salarian to have information on the situation before the Turians, thank the Spirits for small victories in the repeated step backs that the Council had been facing the last two months.

The Hologram changed, showing thousands of images and videos taken during the raids. Individual ships are highlighted and moved off to a second Hologram that steadily grew. As it did, the color drained from Tervos'es face as she watched the rapidly growing Pirate Fleet.

In the end, the final vessel of the fleet of several hundred, was a Dreadnaught class. Sparatus blinked before his mandables parted once again. This...this was insane. He spun on Valern with accusatory eyes before finding even the Salarian was growing paler. It would seem that he hadn't read through the information yet either.

"Valern...is this right? If so not only did a Warlord slip into the Empty Sector, but an entire damn fleet did as well. I'm going to have to report this to the Hierarchy and have a fleet dispatched."

Yet as he moved to activate his Omni-Tool, he noticed something else, which caused him to freeze and the others to look at him, Valern spoke first as per usual.

"Sparatus...this represents a potential change not only for us..but for the Council. Two months ago, a Quarian Ship, fleeing Batarian Pirates, activated a Relay in a bid to escape...my sources beleive that this relay, located deep in the Terminus, is what allowed this Warlord to travel to the Empty Sector...our worlds are no longer safe from the Terminus...I'll called Ambassador Jath'Amon to join us."

Trevos seemed confused as she looked between the two men in the council chamber. The situation still continued to elude her as Sparatus would breath out.

"Trevos, Jath'Amon is our connection to the Batarian Hegemony and by extension their policing efforts in the Terminus. Now however, with this threat clearly now having a way into our systems, we are faced with one option. We have to invade and plug this gap or we will be constantly attacked by Pirates and Slavers."

What was being suggested, caused her to drop the act she was portraying all this time for a few seconds.

"Are you...are you two serious?! What you are suggesting is to invade the Terminus..."

Valern spoke up next.

"No other choice, unless we wish to continue seeing our citizens enslaved. Sparatus, inform the Hierarchy."

Trevos bit her bottom lip even as she heard the Ambassador enter into the room and prepared for the firestorm.


0121.09.22

Chentari System - 314 Mass Effect Relay

Entroa Batarian Hegemony 65th Pirate Fleet

High Admiral Octab'noel

High Admiral Octab'noel growled as he looked over the vessels within the Chentari System, each of them belonging to one of the Hegemony's 65th Pirate Fleet. The name stating all you needed to know about the reach that the Hegemony had within the Terminus System.

Octab'noel himself was the spitting image of a high noble of the Batarian Hegemony. Once sporting four eyes, now down to one and a half, one he lost to a Anti-Piracy Action by the Turians, the other he had to replace with augmetics. Turning his attention to a near by Communication Officer, Aben'sur, and barked out several orders.

"Aben, contact the "Nevelent of Khar'shan" and have that useless pile of Varren "Quep'lo" move his forces to Quadrent 8, Sector 6, one hundred and twelve "Epons" down. They are blocking the return vector of the "Enverst Poletst" from returning through the Chentari Relay!"

Wearing the standard of the Batarian Hegemony Admiralty, blood red and black body armor. However with several skulls and fetishes to present a rather unnerving image to his enemies. Considering a Krogan Skull was strapped to the right shoulder using wires through the eye socket. However Aben'sur turned towards him, catching his attention.

"High Admiral, incoming Black Band from the Citadel. Jath'Amon on priority Line One."

Ah the good Ambassador had decided to contact them, presumably to check in with his investment. With a simple nod, Octab'noel sat down in his seat as his screen turned on. Revealing an overweight Batarian, four sets of working eyes as well gazed back at him as the two pounded fists against chest before Jath'Amon spoke.

"My good friend, it is wonderful to see you once more. It has been to many cycles since we have shared an Asari Slave and Blood "Tep'que" with one another. So, I would like an update."

Six planets in the system, four gas giants, two dead worlds, and one single desert world. He was the newest admiral of this armada after the previous Admiral, Evenal'ropa had been executed following the Quarians activating a Dormant Relay and fled into it to escape their attack. With a nod, Octab'noel pulled up several assorted files and sent them over to Jath'Amon.

"With the last Slave Raid our current quota is near "Septebah" so we will be preparing to follow through with our plan. However, we have a problem Jath'Amon. Relay 314 is open."

This caught the Ambassador's attention. He had heard that the Relay was open but still, the fact that it was placed more pressure on this situation. For it forced the Ambassador to send false information to the Council.

How they ended up near Council Space he had no idea, but he had been taking advantage of the situation. Over the last three months since arriving, the planets that could sustain structures were claimed and turned into slave processing facilities.

Raids have been launched into the very heart of Citadel Space, where the fleets were lesser due to most of the fleets patrolling along the Terminus connection Relays.

Thousands of Salarians, Asari, Turians, Vorcha, Hanar, and Drell had been taken in the multiple strikes into Council Space or Outer Council Space before vanishing as quickly as possible. However something still continued to bother him.

Four sets of eyes fell upon the 314 Mass Relay, which for hundreds of years had remained inactive, but upon arriving, they found it to be active.

Jath'Amon sighed as the Ambassador to the Council glared towards Octab'noel before shaking his head.

"The information has been scrubbed and you are free to continue, but the fact 314 Relay was opened from the other side, we may have a first contact scenario on our hands."

First Contact, while for the weak willed Council and the other two eyed races, this could have been a difficult situation. Yet the Batarian Hegemony was dealing with it and they would deal with it. In their own unique way.

"So it falls to the Batarian Hegemony to demonstrate to this new species that even though we do not agree on all matters with the Council, we understand that certain laws need to be maintained. As such, it falls to us, to place to uphold the "laws" of the galaxy. Prepare your forces Octab'noel. You will be moving through the relay and explaining to this species the errors of its way."

Ocab'noel grinned, mouth filled with needle like teeth as he nodded his head towards Jath'Amon as he understood the implications that were being presented.

"So, we are to fulfil the role that the Turians would be, making these primitive species understand their place is the broader galaxy. However, what if the planet on the other side is not the homeworld of these primitives? Will this not escalate into war if the Council were to catch wind of our actions? We have had several ghost signals near the Chentari Relay."

There had been several of these strange signals over the last few weeks. The mercenaries were starting to worry that the Hierarchy or the Salarians had managed to follow or tag one of their vessels during the raids and followed them back to the Chentari System. Jath'Amon nodded his head in understanding, he was funding the Pirate Sect himself after all.

"Then I would ask you to keep a token force behind to protect my investments. When you have reached your slave quota you will abandon the Chentari System and move towards the Traverse and from there the Hegemony to deliver the new shipment. Remember, A million lesser species for a billion credits and an additional "mothballed" fleet still in dock that conflicted with the Treaty of Farixen. The Council continues to deliberately weaken us all with their continued paranoia and perpetuating this pointless Treaty."

Both of them spat off to the side at the mention of the Treaty. The very idea of limiting the size and fleets in favor of the Turians forced species to weaken themselves so that the Turians could continue to dominate the multiple theaters. Even still they expected the Hegemony to police the Terminus with a one, three, five ratio. For every one Dreadnaught the Hegemony built, the Salarians and Asari could build three, and the Turians Five. This included Fleets. For every Fleet the Hegemony is permitted to build, the Salarians and Asari built three, and the Turians Five.

Then there was the laws on the Relays, refusing to open them because of a war that happened two thousand years ago. This forced the Batarians to spend credits on sophisticated habitation cities for airless rocks, moons, and even gas giants. Jath'Amon continued a few seconds later.

"So if need be, only investigate, then pull your force back from 314, then begin making your way back home. Your wife misses you. She keeps sending me requests to hear from you. I can only claim you are out of range for so long before I want to strange a Slave."

Octab'noel grinned towards Jath'Amon at the fact Eben'yole was able to get to an Ambassador, even a Batarian that had to suffer the idiocy of the Councilors every other month, was able to nearly drive him to murder. Octab'noel broke out into laughter.

"Oh yes, that is the love of my life alright. Give me one week and I will be back in Hegemony Space with the slaves and finally retire from this. In any event, I will begin preparing my forces to move through the Relay. Octab'noel, out."

The com went dead as he turned towards Aben'sur.

"Aben, opened a broad ranged communication to all vessels in the system. I have an announcement!"

With a nod, Aben'sur tapped several times before motioning towards Octab'noel, giving him the signal that he was good to go.

"Attention all forces of the 65th, I've just come from talking with our benefactor, and he has suggested we move through Relay 314! It has been activated, in violation of "Citadel Law", and it falls to us to show this new species the folly of their ways. In four days time we will be moving through the Relay and delivering the law into our own hands."

He cleared his throat before continuing.

"If the enemy proves to be quite defensible, we will be pulling back from the Relay, gather our quota and leave through the Chentari Relay and travel back to the Traverse. I've been informed that in return for our services, we will gain additional assets from the now Mothballed Twenty and Seventy Fleet that the Council has unjustly ordered dismantled."

A general grumble could be heard amongst the bridge crew.

"A force will be left behind to defend the system and our products till we can decide if leaving is the viable option. We've had several Ghost Signatures in the system so we will be preparing for an eventual counter strike from the Council in the event we are caught moving into 314 Relay. Till then, prepare your ships, your capture nets, and your cages my Brothers of the Hegemony."

However he grinned towards the screen, his voice dripping with malice and sadism that was well known to those captured by the Batarians in raids.

"If this is indeed a new species, and we can take the planet beyond 314. A new exotic species, unseen to the galaxy before! Khar'shan will likely pay us millions of Credits per Exotic Slave. Like the Quarians! We are potentially looking at Trillions of credits for the 65th Fleet. We could be looking at permeant retirement for all."

A roar echoed through the bridge at this.

"In addition, salvage, potential technology, and untapped resource deposits, we could be looking at even more profits for us. So I ask you all, to follow me into this one final venture. All ships, prepare your fighters. Warriors, prepare your capture cages. Captains, prepare your guns. In four days time, we either make or break history with the 65th!"

As the eight hundred vessels in system shook from the combined cheering, and the facilities planet side rumbled with cheering as well, none were aware of the cloaked vessels in system.

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