Menae was hell. Neatly tied and handed in a basket. There was no way I could deliver a Primarch in this mess. But I sure as hell needed to. So my squad and I burst out of the shuttle and ran into the heavy fire. It was easy to spot a group of Turians fighting Reapers, so the assist was simple enough. Running to their side they snapped at us, but quickly adjusted to fire upon the enemy.
"I'm Commander Shepard of the Alliance! I'm looking for a living Turian General, it's important!" I yelled out to a young looking major.
"Go to the base about 3 miles from here! The passcode is lemonberries!" the kid called out. Nodding I ordered Kaidan and Garrus to the coordinates that were sent to my omnitool. We had to run, so picking off each husk that came our way we navigated through the canyons sprinting faster than one could on Earth. The simplest things like gravity outside of Earth were trivial in war, but the mass effect field that my armor generated made it trivial. On a normal day, I would love to ponder it, but now I was in the heat of the moment, battle ready. Husks tried to get the three of us, but we picked them off without even trying.
Soon enough, we made it to the gate, and I screamed, "LEMONBERRIES!" Almost instantly, the gate opened for the three of us, and it closed behind us. The large thick barrier provided enough protection that it let us breathe for a moment without being hailed by gunfire.
A Turian lieutenant came up to me, "What's your business here?"
"Who's in charge?" I asked.
"General Corinthus, he's giving out orders as we speak." The Turian clicked.
"I'm Commander Shepard of the Alliance, I need to speak with him, and can you take me to him?" Nodding, the green lieutenant led the way. The smoke and fire was all around the barrier. Looking up for the first time at the sky, I saw Palaven, burning bright as a star itself, a star of hellfire. It broke my heart, my throat choked, and eyes brimmed. It reminded me of my own world burning.
"This way ma'am." The lieutenant ushered me to keep going onward, and my face hardened. Kaidan quickly kept up with my fast pace, and brushed my hand, as if he knew and felt what I felt. Garrus clicked quietly, but amidst the noise I heard him say, "I don't know if my parents or sister made it out of Palaven…"
I looked into his large buggy blues and just placed my hand on his shoulder, saying nothing. We walked to the heart of the mobile base, and I saw a dignified and tired Turian that I presumed was General Corinthus. His face was covered with green markings, as some Turians have.
"General Corinthus?" I inquired.
"Yes. Commander Shepard, what brings you here?" He clicked without really looking up from his holo-table issuing orders and sweating.
"I need a Primarch for Palaven for my war summit to stop Reapers, I'm sure the Councilor told you?"
"Yes, it was difficult to do when our comm towers were hit; fortunately our succession shows that General Victus is next. He's here but currently engaged on the south gate with some husks and brutes. If you can help out, I'm sure he'll oblige." Corinthus looked at me now, "Commander, there is KIA and MIA who might be better if you're patient…our list of names is here…" Before he could say another word I said, "Sorry sir, we are out of time, if he's a good man that is a decent Politian and damn good General I'll take him." I said with conviction.
Corinthus nodded, "Very well. Good luck Commander." I saluted, which he returned. Garrus, Kaidan, and I made it across to the South Gate, shells went off and the noise was deafening over in this area that was under the most pressure.
"Garrus, I need that upper barrier protected, get that gun with the others! Kaidan protect that comm tower with the other gun, I don't want to lose our link to Victus!" I ordered them and they aided the fellow Turians. I must have had a death wish, for I went through the gate and started attacking every Reaper that came at the barrier.
Biotic blasts went to my far off nemeses, while I shot at the large brutes charging toward me. Husks I let in close, saving my bullets, and slashed them with my omnitool sword. Wave after wave came and the guns along the barrier kept my ass safe while my solo shined on.
The last wave was small, before they obviously were grouping elsewhere. After there was a moment, I called out in my earpiece, "Kaidan, Garrus, get me Victus now meet you inside by Corinthus." I was panting and sweaty. I knew I smelled, but it didn't matter.
Getting back in was good, as soon as I saw Victus I said, "Congrats sir, you're the new Primarch, you're need off Menae."
"I'm no politician, and I can't abandon my people." Victus replied, his white markings stained with bluish blood.
"Good. People who want the least power deserves it most. You're one hell of a Turian soldier and Palaven needs you in a different capacity, I hate politicians, but politics sadly founds our basis in war, not Reaper heads. As Primarch, the summit for Earth needs you. We need each other now, time's wasting." I eloquently argued.
Sighing, Victus said, "Five minutes and I'll be ready to go." I nodded, as he went over to some Turians close by, I heard them talking quickly, and they hugged. It wasn't just his squad, it was his family.
When the four of us ran back to the shuttle and took off, I asked, "Who were those Turians?"
"That was my son and daughter. Their mother died this morning. They knew I'd be safe, but they…" Victus trailed off.
"I know the feeling sir. My brother is safe, but I know that he's losing sleep over my adventures."
It didn't take long to leave Menae, fortunately everything timed itself nicely. On the Normandy, in the Conference Room, Dalatrass the Salarian Councilor, and the two Krogan Urdnot brothers were already yelling. Garrus and Kaidan took off, as Victus and I entered the room.
"WE WILL NOT BOW!" Dalatrass screeched.
"YOU WILL NOT DENY US WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS!" Wreav bellowed. Clearly tensions were breaking.
"ENOUGH!" I ordered. They looked to me and Victus. "This is Primarch Victus, speaker for the Turians."
"Before anyone gets any ideas, I need to know the problem form each view and I will mediate a comparable solution, understood?" I gave a steely look to the Krogans. Wrex politely said, "Always did love your audacity Shepard." I winked at him. Dalatrass broke in, "The Salarian and Turians made the Genophage to cause the natural extinction of the Krogan since only infertility and death stops their vile race."
Wreav cut in, "We want the cure if you want our help Shepard." Wrex added, "What say you, Turian?"
"It doesn't matter if you want the cure or not. Something like that could take years to develop; the Reapers would have cause organic extinction by then." Victus coolly responded.
"As a matter of fact there is a cure on the Salarian's homeworld. Dalatrass doesn't want us to have it." Wreav grunted.
"Even if stopping the Reapers could happen, the Krogan's will take vengeance and the blood on my people will be on your hands if you cure them Shepard. What would you do for your world?"
"On behalf of the Turians, I say we give the Krogan the cure. I'd rather have a resentful ally, than a grateful enemy of Salarians." Victus calmly stated.
"Personally, I agree with Dalatrass; however," I paused looking between the two Krogans and Dalatrass, "In war, military strategy needs this cure. That is my say so." Wreav and Wrex were pleased, since the four of us outnumbered Dalatrass.
"STG Base on Sur'Kesh is where you'll find the fertile Krogans." After that was said, "EDI set a course for Sur'Kesh." Once EDI plotted our destination, everyone dispersed. Dalatrass caught my arm before walking out the door, "Shepard, I need you to know something."
I paused in the doorway watching Victus and the Urdnots leave, "What is it?"
"The air dispersal system on Tuchunka had malfunctioned many years ago, if you do seek to cure the Krogan it will not work. If you neglect to tell them, they think you held your end of the bargain, while you gain us as well. You need allies, the cure doesn't matter." Her large black eyes did their sideways blink.
"I'm not sure of the result of this if we survive the Reapers how the Salarian-Krogan-Turian relationship might affect Earth. If the Krogan found out my neglect of the truth they could take their anger upon my people. Didn't you say you'd protect the blood of your people? I know I will."
"Then if you want Salarian help you will kill Wreav." Dalatrass compromised.
"Why?" I wondered.
"Wrex is a reasonable Krogan who united his clans. He's unconventional, less violent. The peace and unity between things he views as an opportunity for him to lead. He's better for Krogan and the rest of us if he lives. Wreav on the other hand will regain vengeance whether there is a cure or not, unlike his brother who will help us even when we don't help him." Dalatrass laid out the choice for me.
"Why would Wrex help us freely? I at least get his blood thirsty typical Krogan brother." I analyzed the mystery of it.
"Wrex wants prestige, reputation. Killing Reapers or being part of your Elite will give him the satisfaction he wants, after all, all Krogan loves winning fights." Dalatrass concluded.
"If Wreav is guilty of a crime, I can easily do it." I said.
"Good, he stole classified information and killed the guards to get it. Satisfied?" Dalatrass asked. Her slimy face almost looked gleeful.
"Wrex lives and I kill Wreav. Consider it done." I bluntly stated.
Dalatrass then said, "Consider the Salarians yours. Good luck with your cure." She slithered away. It was then I realized that the three-way war between these three I just fixed in minutes, simultaneously gaining three more allies for Earth.
Sur'Kesh here we come, I thought to myself.