Reunification

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Berlin

"For decades, we have had this wall between us! For decades, we were kept separate by the Cold War, fearful, afraid we would have to hurt and kill our own countryman, that we would be forced to engage in a war that would benefit no one! Today I am glad to say, no more! Let us be the first to tear down the wall, to tear down this Iron Curtain between the East and West. While many may not agree, we have one thing to be grateful for the Alien invasion, as a people, not just Germans, but humans, we are together, and stronger than ever!" A passionate Hans-Dietrich Genscher said, as people cheered on both sides of the wall, "Today, with Deutsche Einh eit, we shall tear down this wall between people, and look to the sky at our next challenge as man!"

The elderly Gensher, took up a rock hammer from a nearby aide, and with the help of both the Soviet and US ambassadors they began the first strikes against what was left of the wall, both metaphorically and physically between their peoples.

As they pulled out a cinder block, the crowd roared in approval, and the event security let them past and the removal of the Berlin wall's rubble began in earnest.

Henrik and Krüger were amongst the German troops helping in the removal of the wall, they wired a column that had failed to be destroyed in the initial Soviet Rush at the beginning of the Third World War. Placing a stick of explosives, this section of the wall was sealed off from the public due to the war torn streets of Berlin, so in order to completely remove it, the newly united Bundeswehr worked together to destroy the wall.

"Goodbye, Berlin Wall." Krüger said as he pressed the detonator, blowing the wall into pieces.

"Or what's left of it." Henrik said with a smile on his face. But that smile was also a bit sad. This unification would cost East Germany. East Germany had what was considered the most robust economy in the Warsaw Pact. When the veil was revealed in Glasnost, along with millions of other declassified documents around the world, from the US to the Soviet Union, it was revealed that East Germany also pushed for war because its economy was literally destroyed. Before the war, East Germany was on the verge of economic collapse, and had been inspired to support the invasion because of the richness of West Germany. If East Germany had what was considered the most robust economy, then that spoke poorly of the rest of the Warsaw Pact, which had also been on the absolute edge of civil revolt about the economy.

The Warsaw Pact was no more, the verge of economic ruin, combined with a disastrous war, meant that the various nations could not survive without the support from the western democracies, from NATO. It hurt Henrik's heart, but he knew deep down that it was an eventuality. War was expensive, and them losing the war meant Communism would be considered a failed experiment.

Seeing the last vestiges of the Berlin Wall fall however, Henrik and Krüger took heart, as the saying went, no use crying over spilt milk. Cheering out with their former enemies, now their brothers. Today was a new day, to set things right for the human race. And while Democracy had its problems, so did everything else in life.

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Panmunjom, Korean DMZ

"Let us glorify forever this Korea, limitlessly rich and strong!" The KPA soldiers sang as the North Korean flag was lowered for the last time.

As their voices died down, new voices took up the call, at the DMZ border, now reduced to charred cinders, broken land, and blackened earth, thousands of people were gathered, soldiers, civilians, press. Korea would be united, and the new song took its place, "From the ashes of two, one emerges. From the ashes of invasion, one world unites….."

As the new Anthem of Unified Korea was sung, the ambassadors from both former nations reviewed their agreement under the vying eyes of both the Americans and Chinese, watching carefully for any imbalance of power between the two former nations.

While North Korea had taken grievous losses in the war, with nearly a million soldiers dead, South Korea itself had been in no position to enforce unfair demands upon its sister nation. To rectify the injustice that had been visited upon the lands, they had agreed to unify under one overarching administration, but keep the two regions operating autonomously. Similar to how the United States worked. Further integration or separation was to be determined after a few years under the new system.

One of the provisions that the North demanded had been keeping their democratic ideals, which had been nearly laughed out by everyone, even the Chinese, since everyone knew that such ideals were a lie. What the South demanded was for the North's leaders to be held accountable for their actions during the war and be put on trial. That had also been met with scorn, with the American ambassador privately admonishing that while it may be hard to swallow, those leaders were necessary for getting off on the right foot for the nation.

In the end, neither side was satisfied, and many North Koreans had attempted to flee to China to avoid the harsh overlords of capitalism, while many South Koreans tried to leave to Japan or America in fear that North Korea would grow too powerful. But peace had been attained, Korea was unified, and many people celebrated that they could finally meet their family, that they no longer had to live in fear of one another attacking each other.

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25 miles outside Tokyo, Japan

Aika and her unit were resting near a newly established air defense site deep in the mountains. The Japanese government had reorganized the JSDF for the next possible wave of the alien invasion. Reorganizing into six army groups; NorthZ, East, West, Northeast, Central, and the newly established Tokyo Defense Command for the capital.

Codenamed Operation Ketsu-go II, which meant Decisive #2. The Japanese plan was to defend the Home islands from the next possible alien invasion wave. The JASDF and JMSDF would attempt to shoot down as many dropships as possible before they reached the ground in conjunction with future anti orbit cannons, then the JGSDF would move in quickly to crush the landing before they can establish a beachhead, and negating the enemy's ability to launch orbital artillery, or risk losing their own men. In all actuality, Aika shivered at the thought of it, it was almost exactly like the plan that was made to fight the possible American invasion in WW2.

The Japanese government had considered abolishing Article 9 a day after the beginning of WW3, allowing the JSDF to attack first, but changed their minds when it became clear that leaving it in place would serve to trick their enemies that they would not be prepared to launch a first strike. Combined with some clever diplomacy and an insistence on neutrality, and when the attack came it had likely surprised the Chinese politicians.

In preparation for a possible invasion from China, the Japanese had mobilized millions of reservists and conscripted tens of thousands of civilians for the so called "Final Battle" between nations. It had been a wise move, when China declared war on the US, Japan had been in the perfect position to lay down the first strike, crippling the Chinese surface fleet and stalling the inevitable invasion of their islands by months, saving the US from a Chinese invasion by the merest hours. And when the aliens came to invade, the mobilized civilian populace helped the JSDF by taking up non combat duties to free up the trained soldiers, with medics and doctors saving thousands of human lives so the new alliance of humanity could fight off the Turians.

"Move with a purpose! The Aliens won't wait for you to get ready!" Aika heard a hammy voice speak through a loudspeaker, as several Type-75 SPGs and JGSDF soldiers armed with Howa Type-64, took up positions on a ridge overlooking the entire city in military training and exercises for the new soldiers and crew.

"A 'Final Battle' it was. Any news?" Aika asked her friends as she loaded a fresh mag into her Type-89 after cleaning it.

"Eh? Rumor has it, the Canadians discovered a huge mass grave in the forests of British Colombia yesterday, most of the victims had their head mutilated. Probably some sort of experiment. But it's all rumors, nothing concrete." Kenji replied as he showed the supposed picture of a mass grave to Aika. To her it looked so blurry it may as well have been really kinky porn and not something as horrific as a mass grave.

"Something even worse may have happened if they defeated us. I'm ready to give my life for our world." Yuki commented on the story, as he adjusted the bnadage on his head, the bright crimson spot on his head reminding his comrades of a rising sun. "My father was a soldier, and if anything happened to me...Well you know what to do, right guys?"

His comrades nodded as they looked to the morning sky, the faintest stars still twinkling in the sky, interrupted by the zooming contrails of jets.

In the sky above them, a formation of Japanese F-15s and Korean MiG-29s were patrolling the sea between Korea and Japan for any straggling Turians, while the war was officially won, a few holdover Turian forces were still fighting in remote areas, but were slowly being starved out.

"Dagger 1-3, nice to have you flying with us again." The North Korean MiG pilot said to the female JASDF pilot who he had saved days before.

"Nice to have you too, Min-Woo. How's the negotiations?" She asked amiably.

"As well as they could be hoped for considering. We are unified in name, but I fear it will remain as such for a few years until tensions die down. I'm sure you can tell, neither side is happy with the deal." He said a bit sadly, but also with unbridled enthusiasm.

"I can imagine, you gave us a pretty blood nose considering. But it's for the best I believe. The sign of a good lawmaker is that no one comes out totally happy." The Japanese pilot joked.

Earning a laugh from Min-Woo, he sighed after a moment, "I guess you're right."

"And all it took was an alien invasion, World War 3, and a bit of politicking. Well it's what we pay them for anyways. So what's your plans after this?" She asked as they neared the end of their run together.

"I don't have any plans. Why?" He replied, playfully suspicious.

"My flight commander owes me big time, and I was thinking of trading some sake for soju. Get the spirits of the ground team up for their excellent work on my bird." She replied equally playfully.

"Ha ha. Well, I can pull some strings with base command, if you bring an extra bottle for them." Min-Woo replied with mirth in his voice.

"Can do. I'll fly over on the last prisoner transfer flight. My flight commander wants to also personally thank you and your flight for saving my life."

"Its sounds like a date, I'll inform flight control of this little party. Can't let the hardliners get word of this and ruin it… Oh before we split off. I never got your name?" The Korean pilot asked a bit awkwardly. Looking over to the F-15 at his wing, she looked at him. If it weren't for their visors their eyes would have met.

"It's Kobayashi Maki." She said, with perhaps a bit too much emotion in her voice, before they split off.

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Stuttgart

Malashenko was watching a line of Turian POW's march into the concentration camp. Turians from all across Europe were being sent to Stuttgart thanks to its intact international rail links. One of the few still in relative operation thanks to the USSR's inability to bomb it throughout the war.

In fact the only reason he ever got assigned here was because of a last ditch gambit by his superiors to use him as a suicidal commander to paratroop a large force into the area. His natural talent, and indifference to death, combined to make him and his forces a solid thorn in the side of NATO through his entire deployment.

"Dobroye utro Malashenko. Kofe?" A voice from behind him asked in poorly spoken russian. "I said that correctly, right?"

"Good morning Captain Parker. And you did for the most part- Wait coffee?!" Malashenko replied in surprise. Looking at the steaming pot of coffee in Parker's hand, with a pair of mugs in the other.

"Yes. Came in just last night on the train with the prisoners." Seeing Malashenko's antsy look, he smiled sheepishly before holding out a plastic cup for the Russian, who took it and held it for the poured drink.

It was black coffee, no cream or sugar. But to Malashenko the warm drink in his hands was a godsend. Sipping it he sighed, a tear nearly falling from his eyes, "It's been months since I've even smelled coffee."

"I know." Parker replied, pouring himself a cup as well, clinking glasses with the russian as they enjoyed the warm drink in mutual silence.

After a few minutes of watching the Turians walk by, defeated, bloodied, scared, confused. Malashenko ended it, "If there is one thing you americans are good at, it's getting supplies from point A to point B."

Parker nodded, sipping his drink, "I attribute it to our capitalistic tendencies. If there is one thing you Russians are good at, it's getting a lot of men from point A to point B. Seattle was a surprise."

"Da, if we ever worked together instead of against one another, I'd say we'd be unstoppable." Malashenko replied. Blowing into his drink before drinking.

Parker remained silent after that. Looking out over the Turians. "I'd say, we've proven that point. Russian and American, working together, we've accomplished the impossible."

"Malashenko, what was that with you and that other Russian commander. It got pretty heated and he looked angry." Parker asked as he took a swill of his drink.

"Romanov, he's an old friend and comrade. He means well. I- I did something horrible." Parker waited for Malashenko to speak first, giving him time to think. "I killed my uncle, our commanding officer. I was filled with so much anger and bitterness at him, that when he announced that he was planning on deserting and leaving the front on one of our supply ships with our men. I lost control of myself. I killed him. I killed my own uncle in a fit of anger." Laughing bitterly, Malashenko wept, "I killed my uncle who was like a father to me. And the irony? I LIVED! I lead the final counter assault in Seattle, I got my men killed, I killed my uncle, I alienated my closest friends, and I was captured, then traded away back to the Union!" Yelling the last bits he wept openly, dropping his cup to the muddy ground and falling to his knees as he cried. All his emotions, all his repressed self loathing, hatred, and despair bubbling to the surface. "I'm no different then these aliens, I would have gladly killed your unarmed countrymen who fought to free their nation, I would have gladly called in bombardments on your cities, and now that I survived it all when all others I held dear are dead, when all hope I had was lost. Battered. Bloody. Lost."

Parker looked down, unsure of what to do with the man. But he knew he had to get him out of sight, away from the men, away from the prisoners. He was about to pull the man up when Romanov came by, his own face streaming with tears, he pulled Malashenko up, whether to hit him or hug him Parker didn't know.

Malashenko, looking into his comrade's eye, crying like a child, hugged the other man, who returned the embrace. "I forgive you Malashenko. I fucking forgive you." Ending the embrace, Romanov looking at his comrade and superior. He saluted, then left the two men, wiping the tears from his face.

Parker put a hand on Malashenko's shoulder, "We should get inside…"

"Yes. Yes we should. And parker… Thank you for listening." Malashenko said, retrieving his dropped cup and looking mournfully at the spilt coffee, doing his best to clean away the dirt and mud that got inside the cup.

Walking towards the barracks, Malashenko spoke, "Parker…. You said your family is in Seattle?" He asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Yes… I fought in its liberation you know. I was in the leading battalions. We were minutes away from a nuke hitting…. Hitting home." Parker said, his voice growing in emotion as they walked.

"Parker… I fought in Seattle too. I'm sure you heard. I never knew you were so close to nuking your own homeland again, you own home town." Malashenko said meekly, looking down into his empty cup, "I was so sure of the party's rules, so sure of our purity, our cause… I let it blind me, I let my anger, hate, and bitterness cloud me. Now, what do I have to show for it? My wife and child are dead, my uncle is dead, the Soviet Union is rapidly changing away from what I knew. And Lebedjev is likely either dead or in a gulag for treason. The only friend I have left is Romanov… Parker I don't want you or anyone else to feel what I have felt."

Parker walked in silence looking back to the Turians, "The paths for redemption are many Nikolai, an old friend can attest to that."

"And how did he attain redemption?" Malashenko asked as they walked on.

"Remember the nuking of Cascade Falls?" After Malashenko nodded at the vivid memory, "Bannon, our armor commander, through negligence at Marseille, he left our French liaison, Commandant Sabatier for dead. And he killed some surrendering civilians and militia in the raid at Murmansk, by accident or negligence I don't know." Malashenko stiffened slightly, remembering how his wife and infant child had been killed in the raid at Murmansk, found amongst fallen militia. "But I know it wasn't malice, Bannon was many things, but not an angry man. At Cascade Falls, he and his men elected to act as the rear guard for the primary force, to draw in the soviet advance so that they'd be hit with the tactical nuke. He redeemed himself in death by selflessly giving his life so that the rest of our force could escape. And so that we may avert your government learning that the Star Wars program was a bunch of crap. In death, he averted nuclear war."

Malashenko looked hard and long into his cup, "My family died at Murmansk." He said tiredly. Parker looked surprised, and embarrassed for a moment.

Hugging the man one armed, Parker sighed, "They're in a better place Nikolai, they're all in a better place. Its up to us to determine if we'll meet them proud of our actions in life, or in shame at our failures. I'd like to believe Bannon died, if not proud, at least content with his final decision."

Malashenko laughed, a bit of humor, "For a man of few words Parker, you sure know how to make them count. I hope you find all your family, find them alive and well." Stopping, Malashenko sighed, "The Turians, we won't be able to feed them for long."

Parker looked surprised at that, "Why?"

"I don't know exactly, but something about our food and their food being incompatible with one another. If we don't find a way to synthesize their food, they'll starve. And we could have mountains of food to offer them and it wouldn't matter." Looking back at the Turian soldiers, fate uncertain, certain death by starvation. Something in Malashenko hardened. "Thank you for the talk Parker. I have things to do." Handing his cup back to Parker, Malashenko started to jog off towards his radio operator, a noble goal on his mind.

Meanwhile at the other end of the train yard...

"Move your fucking tank, Frenchies!" Isabelle Atkinson yelled as Nathan Delafosse and his AMX blocked the road.

"Well, Mademoiselle. If you haven't noticed, our track has fallen off," sighing in stress, Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose, "if only Commandant Sabatier was here."

"Sabatier? That Frenchman who pushed us out of Marseille?" Jarek asked the two as he and several Hungarian and Czechoslovak soldiers were walking past them towards the trains to begin unloading the supplies and equipment they held.

"Yeah, and he'd be alive too if it weren't for an incompetent American captain." Nathan griped as he looked to his men, who were desperately trying to reset the shoddily repaired track. "Well?!" He barked.

"No good sir, we'll have to get the entire tank to a repair station to fix this up." His mechanic said. "We'll need to get a towing vehicle here asap."

As if it couldn't get worse, an African-American Captain limped up, holding a pot and a clear plastic box of cups in his hands, "Good morning gentlemen and ma'am, is there a problem?" He asked, gaining Nathan's agitation.

"Yes there is a problem. We need a towing vehicle now! Other wise we will be holding up the rosbif here, and have the communists gawking at us." He said letting his thick french accent slip.

"Well I'm sorry to hear that, I'll have a tow come on over. In the meantime, can I interest you all in some coffee?" At the magic words, everyone's heads snapped to look over.

"C- co- coffee?" Isabelle nearly drooled as she heard that. Jarek and his men also had their heads whip around at that, tongues downright wagging. No one here had had coffee in weeks, if not months.

"Yes, Coffee." Holding out the box filled with cups, just about everyone got a cup and a small amount of warm coffee.

"Oh dieu merci. Capitain…?" Nathan asked as he sipped his meagre ration of coffee.

"Captain Webb at your service. The boys at the station have been brewing coffee by the gallon for everyone coming by."

Isabelle and her lads were also holding their cups of warm coffee gladly, "It ain't tea, but it will do." She said happily, her former anger forgotten as she sat atop her Warrior IFV.

Jarek and his men smiled as they sipped, savoring the bitterness of it. "So what are you doing? Captain Webb? Delivering Coffee for us all?"

Webb smiled, holding an empty pot of coffee, "Raising morale. Have you all noticed? You've stopped arguing." They all nodded as they sipped their drinks.

"Aye."

"Oui."

"Samozřejmě."

All three commanders agreed, seeing the silliness of them arguing. "Well I'll be off to call in that tow vehicle. When I do I'll bring a couple more pots for you all. Play nice, alright." Limping off, Webb saluted the French Captain.

"Sorry for yelling at you Frenchie." Isabelle apologized uneasily.

"And I apologize to you captain, for calling you a communist." Nathan said to Jarek, who shook his head.

"No problem. I understand, I'm surprised you've been rolling around in that tank for so long without a full overhaul. Your AMX has taken a lot of pretty close critical hits." Jarek noted, having led an engineer and AT company for the war.

"The Madame has served me and my men faithfully since the beginning. Since Marseille. Yes, I served under Commandant Sabatier." Nathan said with mixed feelings. Sighing he sipped up the last of his coffee.

"What happened. If you don't mind me asking." Isabelle asked, drinking the rest of her drink.

"Well, as you all know, the Soviets managed the cunning plan of bypassing the Mediterranean fleets and landing a sizable force in our vulnerable underbelly of france at Marseille…"

By the end of the story, they were all in silent contemplation. "So what happened to this Bannon? Was he punished for his negligence." Jarek asked,

"Non, not to my knowledge. But I hear he was verbally admonished by his superior Colonel Sawyer, who was very displeased with his actions. But he was a trained officer, and they were in demand. Ah, Welcome back Capitain Webb." Nathan said politely to the African American, who nodded his head, carrying four full pots of coffee in his hands, quickly relieved of them by the four nationalities respectfully, who all filled their cups and then toasted Webb for his duty.

"I overheard you talking about Bannon." Webb said conversationally as he sipped his own cup of coffee as he was helped up onto the AMX by Nathan and his loader.

"Oh?" Jarek asked.

"Yes, I served with him." Everyone took notice of the past tense.

"What happened to him?" Billin, Isabelle's partner, asked as he held his cup in his bandaged hands.

"Well, I don't know all the details, but after he messed up again in a raid at Murmansk, he was relieved of duty and reassigned to Seattle as punishment. As far away from the war as possible in Sawyer's eyes." Everyone chuckled darkly at that, "I don't know exactly what he did, it wasn't my place to know, but he was a very quiet and a reserved man when not in battle. We took part in the Battle of Cascade Falls." Everyone nodded, all of them wholly focused on the story as it was told. Even Jarek, former Warsaw Pact was dedicated fully. "In the end, whatever Bannon did, in Sawyer's eyes he was redeemed. While it wasn't entirely pleasant to serve with him, I will say it was still an honor to have met the man when I did."

Everyone fell silent, then Nathan raised his half full cup, "To Bannon, the bastard, may he, his men, and the foe he took with him, rest in peace." Everyone raised their cups.

"To the fallen." Was added. The tow vehicle arrived, and everyone dispersed to their duties, with a promise they'd drink some more after their shifts.

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Chinese-Taiwan discussion

Seeing the writing on the wall, Taiwan's young democracy made overtures to the US in hopes of remaining free from the likely oppression of China should they reunite. Since so many other nations were reuniting, their turn was to come very soon.

In the UN, they made desperate overtures of their young, but true, democratic traditions they had, insisting that they had come to be a true democracy, while the People's Republic was anything but a republic of China.

While this served to get people mumbling on the issue, everyone agreed that the current political upheaval could not be threatened with China revoking its promised labor pool for the rebuilding process. A labor pool vital to the rebuilding of the world.

In closed door meetings relating to the status of Taiwan, China had maintained it was a rebel province of the greater nation, while the US had carefully argued about it's future as a fledgling democratic nation.

China countered with Deng Xiaoping's "One Nation, Two Systems" which had been adopted by the reunification of Korea, and its continued relations with similar plans for the independent Hong Kong, and Macau.

The US, for argument's sake, said that the balance of power would too heavily favor China. But in the end acquiesced to China on the matter. Taiwan was informed of the UN's decision, and reluctantly was forced to agree to the less than favorable terms. The agreements were that Taiwan, Tibet, Uighur, Hong Kong, and Macau would be declared semi autonomous regions, that would maintain itself including elections, economy, and military, for the next 50 years as a trial period. Any one side breaking the agreement would make their claims forfeit and allow other nations to defend or attack the transgressors as seen fit by the greater political community.

A suitable compromise in everyone's eyes.

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Bangkok

Thai and Vietnamese soldiers, civilians, and emissaries watched as the two nations concluded their peace treaty. The two long at odds nations agreeing that free and fair elections should be held in the neighboring lands of Laos and Cambodia, to know if the people wanted to live under democracy, communism, or perhaps a third system if it were voted for.

Neither side truly cared anymore. The cost in blood for it all had taken a heavy toll on both sides. Vietnam lost 400,000 soldiers. Thailand also suffered heavy civilian casualties with the catastrophic damage on Bangkok, which had become little more than a reduced cinder of its former glory alongside many other cities in the world. Combine this with 350,000 military casualties alone, with the civilian dead still being counted up. Both sides were nowhere near ready to launch an attack, and neither felt particularly compelled to in the face of circumstances. With the Turian invasion force landing in the middle of the city, both sides quickly signed an informal truce and turned against the alien invaders.

Today that informal truce was being inaugurated into a formal peace treaty, "In accordance to the United Nations peace protocol; the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will sign a peace treaty, thus putting an end to the Thai-Vietnamese war." The UN officials announced. The Thai Prime Minister and Vietnamese Premier sit down at the table. Bowing their heads in mutual respect, a few swipes of a pen, and the war was officially over between their peoples.

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Citadel, Central Turian Fleet Command, Tayseri Ward

"... So next issue of missing Battle fleet 300-350, General Desolas, and admiral Yusari have not reported in after the deadline." Rear Admiral Vickarian explained to the assembled Admirals and Generals of the Turian mili There was some grumbling, and the aides were passing around information. 2nd Lieutenant Victus, aide to General Caster, set the small pamphlet of smart paper before his commanding officer and mentor. "strange…" Caster whispered as he took up the pamphlet, letting Victus see over his shoulder at the writing, not hard for a Turian's keen vision.

"As we all know, Major-General Desolas, commanding officer of the 121st Joint Ground-Space attack division, has been a model officer for his entire service history, few admonishments, excellent scores, inspiring command presence. His last report was from the frigate Gallent, which after reporting at a comm-bouy, returned to its parent fleet. In that report Lieutenant-Commander Usphalen of the Gallent reported a relay had opened with no one coming through, as a possible first contact scenario, Desolas' objective would be to investigate and engage in minor diplomatic overtures and quarantine the relay from other powers," of which everyone knew he meant batarians, "until Council approved diplomats could arrive. Since then we have heard nothing." Speaker of the floor High Admiral Thrawn explained, his elderly features a note of inspiration to any who looked at him.

"This is unusual for Desolas, I've known him personally, and he is a very by the book commander. I assume there is nothing else High Admiral Thrawn?" High Admiral Christophis asked politely.

"None, as standard procedure states, a fleet is to report once a month with all relevant information when in deep scouting operations. If he was engaged in minor diplomatic overtures with another species on the other side of the first relay, he would have reported easily by now." High Admiral Thrawn said assuredly.

"Likelihood of immediate aggression from the Relay openers?" Another High Admiral asked, "Perhaps the entire Battlegroup was destroyed before they could retreat in any meaningful way?"

"Possible but highly unlikely, the foresight required, and the resources necessary to destroy the 50 ships without a SINGLE VESSEL escaping is improbable without complete and absolute surprise, which they would lack since Desolas and his XO would have been prepared for the possibility. And if true the attacking race would have been prepared to carry them out and then attack through the relay, and we have received no reports of any disturbances in the area from unknown forces." Thrawn explained cautiously to everyone. In short, unlikely, but if true they would have heard something by now.

"It could be possible that the relay was opened by an unknown civilian explorer who understandably panicked and fled away from the fleet, and Desolas would then have to follow the ship and try and explore the opened relays on the other side to find a inhabited world to engage in diplomatic communications." Caster extrapolated carefully, and many people nodded, "This of course doesn't explain his lack of communications, but if we take it to the extreme, alien pirates looking of the score of their lives attacking the courier ship, a cold war, or spirits forbid open war between alien factions on the other side of the relay…" He didn't need to go on for the various nightmaric problems of suddenly getting involved in a war that had nothing to do with them.

More grumbling, words of caution, "I agree with Caster, for all we know, Desolas is in the middle of very delicate negotiations between two species in the middle of a war, and any move to have a ship break off from where he came, or worse, another investigation fleet chasing after him could draw the Council in a war we have no right nor reason to be involved in, and which could very well spell the end of the Council as we know it." Lieutenant General Fedorian, step brother of the Primarch, agreed.

"I believe we're caught in a very awkward situation. Should we inform the other council members?" Councilor Sparatus asked everyone present.

High Admiral Thrawn looked to the gathered members, "I'd say it would be fair to inform them of what we know. Best case scenario is that the ship sent out to inform us was delayed, damaged, or intercepted for whatever reason. Worst case scenario the entire fleet has been lost due to unforeseen circumstances, and they have now started a war with another species, or spirits help us a group of species."

"So what should we do?" Sparatus asked everyone assembled.

Victus whispered in Caster's ear after a few suggestions were thrown out, "Wait, and in the meantime prepare a joint council fleet to investigate if we don't get word?" A combination of the various suggestions espoused.

When Caster voiced his aide's suggestion it met a few remarks on if the survivors were in desperate need of aid they'd be lost if they delayed. But practical matters of logistics and ships were then pointed out. The Turian fleet was stretched out defending thousands of relays, patrolling hundreds of light years of space, and putting out hundreds of fires all across citadel space from natural disasters to pirate raids. The practicality of it was that they didn't have any immediate ships to send with the supplies, range, and capability of making a difference, since for all they knew Desolas' fleet had been eaten by a black hole, and they didn't want to repeat his mistake.

"It's going to take months, and even then we may never learn what happened to his fleet." Thrawn said sadly, "Just another fleet lost to the mystery of space. Now onto our next matter of the day, about the raids in the..."

To the Turians and the Council at large, this was a monthly occurrence, most fleets had delays or errors made, some didn't report back for months or sometimes years at a time, most of the crew and soldiers stuck in cold sleep for the duration of the journey. And some, like Desolas', wouldn't report back ever.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

GeoSynchronous Orbit, Earth, near turian Corvette Epiphanies

Manned mission launches to investigate the alien ships in orbit. A few intact thanks to the Turian's attempt to escape when their drives hadn't fully discharged.

"Understood Houston, we're nearing the ship now. Over." Specialist Jan Ulrich reported to command back at Houston. Using equipment scavenged from the Turians, they managed to get an intact dropship from a Turian crash landing near Tennessee.

Looking to his Russian partner, Sergeant Aleksandrov Kurvoro, who was leading a squad of Spetznaz GRU, codename Zvesda. From what Jan knew, they were the same team that destroyed the AA defenses during the initial PACT offensive in West Berlin.

Whatever their past, Jan was uneasily, and uncomfortably happy to have them on his side. "Remember, they've been in this hulk for nearly 2 weeks, their food reserves should be running low, and most of the crew who survived would likely retire to their stasis tubes to conserve supplies. We want to capture as many of them as possible with the ship intact. We will need the knowledge they have to use it. Use of explosives is forbidden, we are armed with their weapons due to the lack of penetrating power. I know this doesn't need to be repeated but…"

The US Rangers on the dropship nodded themselves, and prepared their Turian weapons. "We understand, right Rangers!?" The other green clothed soldiers affirmed.

"We have locked into the airlock, pressure seals are good, we have air on the other side. Radiological is in the safe zone… what does that light mean… oh! And I think there are people on the other side waiting." Jan reported.

Both the Russian and American squad leaders nodded to each other and prepared flashbang grenades and their stun modifications on their rifles. "Concussion mods" apparently. Jan looked back at the security team on board as well, mostly military police, they were to watch over the medical team and the lone Turian doctor on the dropship, who had been quietly waiting in the back, contemplative he thought.

The Ranger squad leader took the front, preparing a flashbang"On go. 3…. 2….. 1… GO!" The blast door opened slightly, enough for them to toss in the grenade. The blinding explosion, even through the door, would have stunned the Turians on the other side. The door fully opened, and the Rangers and Spetznaz charged in yelling various calls for the Turians to get on the ground. Some more graphic than others.

There was no gunfire as nearly half a dozen Turian crewmen were pushed, pulled, tackled, or fell to the ground by the three dozen Rangers and Spetznaz soldiers. "Move, move, move! Come on Rangers I want this bucket cleared in ten minutes!"

Author's Notes

Blood Raven: I sincerely hope me and Phuripat here surprised you with another chapter. Thought it was dead didn't you? Well fret not! We are committed to make more chapters for you guys, we may see a huge timeskip soon.

I'm particularly happy with this chapter, and it has gotten me very interested in near the end Cold War history. I had to lok up when Taiwan became a democracy especially.

If you like Phuripat's ideas, go check out his Gundam Fanfic, Through Their Eyes, chapter 2 coming up soon!

Phuripat: I would like to thank Timedraven117 for his effort. He changed this fic from a failure it was to what it is today. Thank you.