27/5/2059

Volkshalle, Germania.

Never once in Ulfric's life had he ever enjoyed coming to the Volkshalle. While it certainly was an impressive sight, and always would be, his presence always meant he had to announce something, or at least give a speech. It would seem that the German position in the galaxy is still fragile, he had to admit, he had not expected the Geth to be their next enemy, but this was a strange time to be alive in.

Gottfried had made plans for an invasion of Rannoch over 20 years ago, but it was the war plan that had been the least updated over the years. Most of the OKW agreed that the Geth were a minimal threat as long as we didn't step into their territory. How wrong they had been on that account. Over the years, the German war machine had seen impressive upgrades. Better drive cores, better armor and shields, better guns and certainly better lasers. If Germany were to win the war against the Geth, they would need it all, Ulfric knew as much.

"Are you ready, mein Führer?" Martin asked as he dusted Ulfric off. To a large degree, he wasn't, but he never would be either. He was no longer a young man. Touching 75 years of age, but he didn't look a day over 60, nor did he really feel it. Modern medicine in Germany has made many things possible. A longer life span was enjoyed by the population, and less diseases to kill them off.

"Yes." He replied, but he couldn't help the slight sigh that escaped him.

Martin gave a brief nod and stepped out of the way. Ulfric took a deep breath, and stepped into the light. He didn't wave to the crowds who were cheering for him. This was a serious matter. He cleared his throat.

"People of the German Reich, and our friends in the Einheitspakt!" He began, and there was complete silence. It was nice to know his voice still carried weight, even at this age. "Since we joined the galactic community, our position has been fragile. Though we build and bring stability to the universe, there are those who would see us UNDONE!" Deep anger seared through the crowd.

As things began to quiet down again, Ulfric cleared his throat. "Not too long ago, we fought a similar war. A war that took a toll on us, but a war that had to be fought. I know that some pain lingers, brave German soldiers gave their life for that cause, both the war and the rebellion that followed. I share your sentiment." The quiet continued. "However! We can't allow a machine race like the Geth to walk all over us!"

More cheering ensued, but died down rather quickly. "So from this moment, the German Reich is at war with the Geth!" It would seem the people of Germany, and the wider Einheitspakt, were still in favor of a good war. "And we will WIN!" The cheering deafened all else. "Sieg Heil!"

And once again, one thing was shouted all across the world.

HEIL GERMANIA.

After that, Ulfric resigned from the stage. Martin was eagerly waiting for him.

"Excellent speech, mein Führer." He remarked with a big smile as he handed Ulfric some water, which Ulfric eagerly drank, his throat was so dry, even that small speech had knocked the wind out of him.

"It's a hell of a gamble. We know next to nothing about the Geth. We just have to hope we can count on Quarian support, and the council to let us do our thing in peace." Ulfric said after finishing the bottle of water. "Is Gottfried ready to meet me in my office?"

"Yes mein Führer. He promised he would be there." Martin reassured Ulfric.

"Good. Then let us hope he can win us another war."

27/5/2059

Garrison barracks, Colony of Semson

Jane couldn't believe what she was watching on the television. The entire barracks were divided between those who were cheering, and those who were worried of what might happen next. Jane wasn't too sure what to think, but maybe this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. The moment to prove her worth, to be the hero. Something neither her parents nor her brother would approve of, but it was something she had to.

"Listen up deadbeats!" Lieutenant Jacobs yelled across the room. "Considering the news you have just heard, the Reich has requested as many volunteer units as possible for upcoming operations. However we still have a colony to defend. So I have decided that no more than thirty percent of this division gets to join the invasion. We'll let it be a first come, first serve thing. Those who wish to join, come see me in my office! Is that understood?"

"Sir yes sir!" All replied.

Jane watched as the crowd dispersed slowly. She could hear the whispers, of how some wanted to join, and some wanted to stay. If she had to make a qualified guess, most of them would like to stay. Most of them who joined the volunteer corps, did so out of either desperation or boredom. Only a few did so because they truly believed in the cause. Did she believe in the cause? Their mission? She wasn't sure.

"Don't even think about it." And there it was. Demetrius. The supposed voice of reason in her life, besides all of the others ones, of course. Jane sighed as she turned around to face the man.

"Are you really giving me an order?" Jane asked, annoyed at his comment. Next thing he would do, would probably be quoting the bible. Some bullshit verse that could vaguely have relevance to the situation.

"It's called advice, and you would do well to learn how to take it." What she hated most was how he mostly spoke in that monotone voice. Made him seem like that know-it-all type.

"Whatever." She brushed off his comment. He didn't get to decide what she was going to do with her life. Why did he even care? She stormed off, content with being on her own for a while.

Some fresh air did her good. She had that problem, becoming angry wasn't a choice always, but to not act on it was. Her brother was much better at staying calm at any given time. Which reminded her, she hadn't heard from him in a while. She frantically typed in some commands on her omni-tool, worried that something might have happened. It didn't help that John didn't pick up her call.

In the end, she calmed herself. She reminded herself that he was a special forces soldier, the type that could handle anything. She didn't feel like having another argument with her parents, and she knew that was exactly what was going to happen if she called them. Sometimes it felt unfair, how they had let John go so easily, and they had to make a fuss about her.

She stopped to breathe again, and looked around the barracks. She could see the rest of the main city in a clear view, just from behind the fence. The prefabs that had been set up as housing were quickly being converted into actual buildings. The super concrete that the Reich had developed long ago was still being used to its full extent. The land on all the colonies was being given away for next to nothing, and they promised to forget any sins a person might have committed, not to mention that there was less surveillance here than back on earth. That's why so many people came out here, to start a new life. Jane knew they deserved that chance, and they deserved to be protected.

At that moment, her mind was sealed. She was going to join the war. See some real action. Her biotic powers would come in handy for the war effort anyhow, so she wouldn't be holding anyone back. The others could stay here if they so desired.

So, she marched to the lieutenant's office. Considering she could walk right on in, she seemed to be the only person willing to join this war from their battalion. To be fair, her lieutenant didn't look the slightest bit surprised when she walked through his door.

"Private Shepard, what a pleasant surprise." The sarcasm that dripped from their lieutenant's voice was so thick, she could drink it like soup. Lieutenant Jacobs wasn't a bad man by any means, but nor was he the type you would want to be closer to. He could be mean, but mostly he was indifferent. He mostly tolerated whatever his soldiers did, but he could be a hardass if he wanted. Most people from Wisconsin were, or so she heard.

"I'm here to report for duty." She said, confident, like she had practiced the line thousands of times in her head. To be fair, she had.

The lieutenant opened his omni-tool and browsed through, as if to give her the chance to stand down and walk away. She didn't. "Well, if you are serious, then there is plenty of room." Jacobs remarked. "Divisions are being organized on the planet Göringstadt. A shuttle leaves tomorrow, I'll write you up." Jacobs said as he began to type on his omni-tool and picked up a data pad.

"Write me up as well." A voice said from the door. They both looked over to see none other than Demetrius standing there. Probably the last person she expected, except maybe Carla. Jane was in shock. What was this? Some cheap trick or did he actually want to go?

"Interesting." Jacobs once again commented. "Fine private, I'll add your name to the list. If any of you change your mind, you have until midnight to decide."

Jane thanked the lieutenant and excused them both as she all but pushed Demetrius out of the room. Demetrius looked almost confused, which only served to make Jane more mad.

"What the hell are you doing?" She asked, he would be a fool not to notice the harsher tone she used.

"What do you mean?" That did it.

"Oh, what do I mean? Are you seriously asking me that? You spent so long trying to convince me not to go out in the galaxy and look for 'trouble', as you like to put it, and now you waltz in and ask to join the crusade?"

He looked at her, for a good long minute, as if he was studying her, or if she was speaking some alien language. Everything he did, she hated. It only served to flare up her temper more. She almost wanted to scream at him, to explain himself.

"I couldn't let you get killed in good conscience. So I'll go with you, make sure you don't do any more stupid things than absolutely necessary."

She was dumbfounded. So he did care? Somewhere, somehow it seemed so. Now he was gonna fight, and if both of them were going, there was a chance that Carla might join as well. She sure as shit didn't want to stick around here without them.

"You gotta be joking." She finally said, after almost a minute of silence between them.

"Afraid not." He replied, he looked away for a moment. "Let's get Carla on board as well. We'll need as much back up as possible, and I have a feeling you'll be needing medical attention at some point…. We all will." He remarked.

It was as good a plan as any.

Jäger's office, Reich embassy, Citadel.

"God damnit." Otto muttered as they watched the announcement play on a giant screen in Jäger's office. Everyone was pretty much silent. It had been a few years since the last major war, and now Germany was gearing up for conflict again.

"What now?" Nihlus asked, bringing anyone into the moment again. Everyone except Jäger, who was still on the phone with the Reich back home, from what they could gather, everything was pretty much chaos. People were scrambling to get ready for what was now put in motion by the Führer.

"You still have a job to do." Otto replied. "Saren is still a massive threat. The Reich will now handle the Geth, but you need to focus on bringing down Saren."

"I won't let you down, sir." John was quick to add. It was weird in some way, having to work with a Turian again, and this time, on more equal terms. "But… Where do we begin?" John then asked, after giving it some thought, he was honestly at a loss. The galaxy was a big place, and they had no idea where Saren could be.

"You need a ship. One dedicated to this mission, and to you." Nihlus answered. "I already have mine, and we'll cover more ground if we split up." Nihlus was right, and Shepard kept seeing why he was a Spectre. He was a very level headed Turian, understood most things and always had a plan. But the question remained, where the hell was he gonna get a ship? Or a crew? "We need to go over what we know, so when you have a ship, call me up. We'll meet up and discuss our options from there." Nihlus said, and with that, he was gone.

"He is right, you know." Jäger finally said. He must have been done with his phone call. "We need to find you a ship. Captain Hölder and I need to discuss this further. So if everyone would please give us the room, that would be lovely." Jäger requested, and everyone left for the embassy bar.

John wondered on the way there, if the Reich would really provide a vessel solely for him. Was it really the host nation's job to give equipment to their Spectre? There was probably some citadel law written about it. Like how everyone must cooperate with a Spectre by law. Then his thoughts wandered to what kind of ship he might be getting.

Some ordered a drink, and some did not. And they all waited for news. Who knew how long it would be before they would get the call to come back in, but it did bring a thought to John's mind. Would he be allowed to pick his own crew?

"Hey, Garrus?" John asked, and waited for Garrus to put his drink down and look over at him. "I was wondering. As a Spectre, am I allowed to pick the crew that will join me on the journey?"

"As far as I know, yes. The ship you get will actually be yours, your government can't govern it with the same concern as before." Garrus replied.

"Then I have a proposition for all of you." John gathered their attention. Wrex and Tali also looked over at him. "If you want to, you are welcome to join me on the vessel I'll be getting." John wasn't necessarily sure if this was a wise idea. He was almost certain that the Kriegsmarine were gonna have something to say about it, they always did. But this was his mission… Was it not?

"I might as well join. You still seem like the best chance to track down Saren." Wrex remarked, in his usual non-caring tone, that only he could really pull off. Nevermind that, a big Krogan was useful, as had been established already.

"I'm sick and tired of C-sec, and I want to bring Saren down just as much as you. I'm in. Always wanted to serve with a Spectre." Garrus was full of confidence, and maybe even excited for a change of pace.

And then lastly, Tali joined in. "The pilgrimage is about us Quarians showing that we are able to stand up and help each other. Saren is a threat to all, including the fleet. I want to be able to say I stood among everyone else when it mattered."

"Well alright then." John remarked with a smile. "It's a deal then. We'll discuss the details of the employment when we get our hands on a ship." It was nice to build the backbone of a team. Though some of them might need a little training, especially in how the German army operates. If the rest of his squad would join him from the DKM Normandy, it would be even better.

There next hour was an agonizing wait. John paced by the Ambassador's office several times, mostly in the hope of eavesdropping on what they were talking about in there. He couldn't get anything concrete. But he supposed that the Kriegsmarine wouldn't be quick to give over control of a vessel, so negotiations were bound to be hairy. Still, it only served to heighten John's sense of excitement.

Another hour passed, and John got himself another drink. It was nice to take it slow a bit. To relax and take in what had happened. Another hour passed, and they finally emerged from the ambassador's office.

"Oberleutnant, come on in." Jäger requested. John happily obliged. Now his new found teammates had to wait for him, while they gave John his briefing. John stood at attention in the office as the ambassador and Otto sat back down. "Please, be seated, Oberleutnant." John did as asked.

There was a few seconds of silence before someone said anything. "After talks with OKW and the Admiralty of the Kriegsmarine, we have found a vessel for you." The Ambassador finally said. John almost sat on the edge of his seat.

"The DKM Normandy will be transferred to your command immediately. The Kriegsmarine has also seen fit to promote you to Captain, effective immediately." Otto recited from the data pad in his hand. John could hardly believe what he had just heard. "Congratulations, son." There was a weird mix of both pride and sorrow in his old captain's voice, but John was too busy trying to wrap his head around what he had just been told.

"But-... Captain?" John could hardly get the words out of him. It made no sense, why would they effectively give him the Normandy like that? And had they demoted Otto?

"I've gotten my own promotion, son… Großadmiral Schultz and Admiral has convinced me to step down as acting Captain. This is your show, and I have high expectations of your performance. So you go get that Turian fucker and make him pay." Otto reassured John.

"But-"

"No ifs, ands or buts soldier. This is final. You're a Council Spectre now, and it's your job, not mine, to go and hunt Saren down. You need the very best, and the Normandy is the very best. You know the crew, and what they are capable of, and if not, you will know soon enough."

"Yes sir, I won't let you down." John found it hard to admit to himself, but it was sad to see Otto go. He had served with the man several times, and while Otto could be a hardass, and certainly a loose cannon, he was one of the best commanding officers one could ask for. He didn't deserve this.

"Captain. The ship will be formally transferred to your command. The agreement is as follows: The Kriegsmarine will pay any expense in regards to fuel and maintenance of the ship, however, it must be on standby for any assignment the admiralty and the fifth fleet deems necessary." Jäger switched it to a more professional tone.

"That is fair, Sir." John replied, while straightening his back. "Do you have any leads for me?" John then asked. He realized that he had almost nothing to go on.

"We have compiled a file of things that could be of interest. You get to choose which direction to go from here. I suggest talking with Nihlus." Jäger gave him a datapad, probably filled with the information he needed.

"Thank you sir. I will."

"Do us proud, Captain. Remember, you are part of the German army before anything else. You were human before anything else. When you are out there, look out for our interest. And please, try not to cause too much trouble." Jäger basically ordered.

"I understand sir." John said.

"Then you know your mission, Captain. Good luck."

"Yes sir."

20 minutes later.

Meeting room, DKM Normandy

The crew had gathered in the meeting, and it almost seemed crowded with all the people in there. They had to discuss their plan of action. Saren could be anywhere, but there were clues to that pointed to a few different places in the galaxy. Nihlus stood besides Shepard as they prepared to start the rounds.

"Pay attention everyone!" John ordered. Everyone quickly fell in line and all fell quiet. At least he did have a commanding voice. Nice to know they were able to follow orders. It was going to be quite a learning curve to be a Captain. "Our mission is simple. Hunt down Saren Arterius." Everyone looked pleased at hearing that. So everyone was on board, that was also nice to know.

"Saren Arterius was the best Spectre the council had. It's important that we do not underestimate him. Saren will stop at nothing to complete his goal, and we must be ready to do everything to stop him." Nihlus added.

"But first, we need to know what Saren is after. Mrs. Zorah, you had something to add?" Nihlus asked. He looked at the Quarian with contempt. Clearly he was like most Turians, who still blamed them for their actions with the Geth.

"Yes!" She replied excitedly and stepped forward. "I dug around a bit more in what was left of the Geth memory core. I managed to pull some logs. It seems that the Geth believed in something called the Reapers." She explained.

"The Reapers?" John was puzzled.

"As far as I can read, the Geth believe them to be an ancient race of machines who wiped out the Protheans 50.000 years ago. The Geth revere them as Gods, and they believe Saren will harald their return to the galaxy. Also, there is mentions of something called 'The conduit', which is apparently the thing that Saren is after"

With that explanation, the vision John had experienced on Lion's gate made sense. Like a flash of lightning, it clicked. The Reapers leading an all out purge against the Protheans. Everything seemed to line up. By all accounts, the Protheans vanished instantly. Many people had different theories about how that occurred. Some say it was a galactic civil war, others say it was some sort of plague, or perhaps an outside invasion force. But it also left another question: What was the conduit that Saren sought? A weapon of some kind perhaps?

"Interesting. But we must remain objective. We do not know what Saren managed to make them believe, he is a master of getting what he wants. Either with skillful words, or brute force. You all saw the cunning manipulation he managed to pull off with the council. Who knows how many years he has been lying about his actions." Nihlus replied. John had to admit… Maybe Nihlus was right, maybe Saren was just so good at what he did that he was able to fake even this… But something else, deep in his guts, told him otherwise.

"For now, we act on what we know. Saren and Benezia are leading the Geth. We need to counter them and learn what they are doing. The Ambassador gave us a couple of targets to check out." John pulled out the datapad he had been given and brought the information up on the screen in the meeting room for all to see.

"We have managed to get a location on Benezia's daughter, Dr. Liara T'Soni. She was apparently studying Prothean ruins on a planet called Therum. A mining colony. As far as I can read, the KGU are already on their way there due to a distress call." John said.

"Figured they would rush for something like that. They are still feeling the shame for being the ones attached to Lion's gate. They must be itching to give it back to the Geth." Emil remarked.

"Yes, quite so. Another target would be the colony of Neu Bremen. Apparently a colony built upon ruins of Protheans. We have lost communications with them. Huh-" John paused as he looked at the information. "Apparently the 31st Brigade of the Royal English 12th light infantry division are on their way to figure it out… And finally, we have Terevas, where there have been rumors of something brewing." John finally looked back at his crew.

"I'll handle some leads I have on my own. But I would suggest you get your hand on Benezia's daughter. She might know something, and could be used as leverage against her mother if need be." Nihlus recommended.

"I agree. We'll head for Therum. In the meantime, we'll keep in touch about the progress of the mission with each other."

"Of course."

"Then this is it gentlemen. We've got a hell of a hunt awaiting us. Saren is smart, but not even the smartest can hide forever. He must be brought down. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and both The Council and the Reich depend upon our actions. This mission isn't going to be a safe one either, but I imagine most of you knew that.. This is our time to rise. Sieg heil!"

"HEIL GERMANIA!"