Thanks to all who read and to all who review, even more so. I am indebted to you all. A new chapter, longest one yet, next to the prologue. Enjoy. I decided to speed things up a bit.
Bewildered
"Would someone please explain to me what just happened?" Wrex, Garrus and Ashley were all standing up in the prow of the Normandy looking out at the massive Citadel station.
"I have no idea." Garrus was as confused as the huge krogan warrior.
Ashley stirred, her crossed arms repositioning themselves across her chest. "A whole week, nothing, then a fleet appears out of nowhere going the wrong way!"
Joker who was seated in his pilots chair behind them spoke up. "Nothing left of them either. All of them vanished."
"How many?" Wrex turned away from the windows and faced him.
"Nearly two thousand. None of them conforming to any design I've ever seen. They just disappeared, off the map, gone. Came out of nowhere too."
Ashley put in again from her window vigil, "None of them even looked like Sovereign. Just came out of nowhere and vanished just as quick."
"Dan should know." Garrus turned as if to head down to the command deck and talk to him there but a word from Ashley stopped him.
"He doesn't know."
Garrus was silent, letting her continue.
"He'd tell me if he knew. He hasn't therefore he doesn't know. No one does. That's why he and Lord Admiral Anderson are down in the captain cabin talking to the council right now, and they're checking databases all over the fleet. We have never come across things like this before."
Silence descended yet again. The fact that none had asked the obvious question bothered all of them, but they didn't act on it. The silence was broken by a timid voice from behind them.
"What were they?"
Tali had come up behind them, unnoticed, and was standing there silent as a wraith.
Wrex grunted. "We don't know either quarian. Those things didn't stay long enough to tell us, or to show us if they were enemies. One moment here, the next gone. We are as much in the dark as you are."
"Nothing like this has ever happened before Tali." Garrus said in a kind tone, "We have no idea how we are going to deal with it. Even the commander doesn't know yet. But, this you can rest on," his voice got a little louder at this, "Whatever comes through there, we will hold our ground!"
"You can knock off with the heroic speeches Garrus. We already know that." Wrex strode off back down the walkway towards the hanger where his krogan warrior squad was stationed.
"You were quoting that Garrus." Ashley smiled where she was standing. "Don't tell me Dan showed you his collection of old films, he never stops going on about them or his music collection."
Garrus was slightly embarrassed. "Eh, no, not quite."
Both females turned to look at him and he cast his eyes down. "I asked for something to keep my mind off my nerves before my appointment as an Executor. He sent me a huge amount of stuff via the net and I watched it all in one night. It was not a good idea. Now I find myself quoting at random."
The two girls looked at one another before bursting out laughing.
##############
"Something's not right about that portal." Tom was a bit unhappy with the environment. The recovered Spartans had been relieved of their weapons and were up on the bridge with the Admiral and the Arbiter. The Master Chief had demonstrated a surprising amount of diplomacy when he had stationed himself between both the Arbiter and the rest of his squad. The Arbiter had given up his seat to the Admiral and he was floating high above their heads. It had all been done in the spirit of friendship, and to show the suspicious Spartans that they meant no harm, but Hood was squirming a little. The chair was a little too big.
"The portal is stable Admiral," the Sangheili Navigator had enough sense to catch the prevailing wind a steer according to it.
"What exactly does that mean Navigator?"
Under the blank stares of the gold faceplates the Navigator was sweating. "It means that it will remain open until it is closed manually sir."
Hood sat back. "That's odd, normally a portal will close in seconds unless a Slipspace engine is keeping it open. Dr Halsey?"
This last point was addressed to the old woman standing with them. She was the closest thing the Spartans had to a mother and she was fiercely protective of them. Only she knew that the Elites who had come to attack them had been Separatists and as such, could have been their allies instead of enemies. And Dante, Holly Will and Kurt would all still be alive. Her rage at this was undeniable, until she had heard that it wasn't until the Arbiter allied with Keyes and Johnson that she had understood. The news would have come too late anyway.
Now she concentrated on the data that she was examining at the console. "I don't quite know what happened Lord Hood. It would appear that a damaged Slipspace drive, opened this and never closed it. Why, I don't know. What I find worse is that this portal doesn't lead anywhere known. The time signature seems to be off as well. When it leads is also a question I would like answered. I get no readings as to whether or not the Brute Fleet was destroyed or saved."
"We also have that large question out there to deal with." The Arbiter pointed out the view to where the Yautja ships hung in space.
"Good point Arbiter, that's why I have ordered them to come over here and speak with us." Hood lowered the chair and got out, walking over to the Spartans. "I have sent a team of marines to investigate their landing, but I expect you IIs to be with me when I go to talk with them. It will help keep order. Several Elites will be present, and they will be also help maintain order. I don't quite know what is going to happen." He turned to the IIIs. "You lot I want to go and get your armour fixed. We also may be able to upgrade it properly."
The IIIs saluted with clean precision and marched out, glaring at the Elites as they did so. Hood waited until they had left the room then turned to his Blue Team.
"What do you make of them?"
Fred looked at the others before he spoke. "They were trained by Kurt 051 sir. We've seen them in combat, they can hold their own."
"Good. We may just need them."
#############
Ashley didn't stir as Dan came walking up to where she was standing by the window. For a moment he wondered where she was staring before he followed her gaze to the shimmering portal.
"What do you make of it?"
"I wonder more where it leads, then what it is."
"I'm not sure. One of our fighters tried to enter, but some kind of magnetic field pushed him back. It can't be entered from the receptacle end. That's what we are."
"It does pose a problem then. A battle could happen on both fronts."
"I doubt it. Nothing has come through in a week. I'm beginning to believe that they aren't coming."
Ashley spun to face him. "What?"
Dan looked her right in the eyes. "You heard exactly what I said. I think they might not be coming."
"What does that mean then, for the fleet?"
Dan looked around carefully, and then led her to a small corner where they wouldn't be overheard. "I think we may have to go through after them."
"Are you insane? If they've put up the kind of resistance we have, then we'll be massacred!"
"That's exactly what Anderson and I agreed. We ought to send only a scout first, then follow through if the coast is clear. We can't stay here for good, can we?"
Ashley looked at him incredulously. "You are mad! How do you expect us to go through?"
"I didn't mean that…"
"Don't!" she cut him off. "I know it will be the Normandy to go through. Who else has the ability to go undetected? Even Sovereign didn't spot us when we used our stealth systems!"
"Ashley!" Dan whisper-shouted. "Enough! I have argued against it. Everyone knows all that this ship has sacrificed in the fight for freedom. No one is asking us to do anything. Anderson is going to take a carrier through. It should be able to fight long enough to turn and head back if anything happens."
She stopped with words stuck in her throat. Quickly she wrapped her arms around his head and kissed him. They held it for about half a minute before she let him go. "You are never going to do something as dangerous as that. If they don't kill you, I will!"
Dan grinned at her. "Looks like you have me well and truly trapped there Ash, but I'd sooner have you kill me then them any day."
############
Ash G099 picked up his new pauldrons and examined them critically. "I don't see what the new thing is with these. They look exactly the same as my last set."
The tech who had given them to him gave him an annoyed frown. "Just put the damn things on will ya! I ain't got all day."
Ash shrugged and got into the rest of his armour. The rest of Team Sabre followed suit.
"Alright people," the head of the armour development came in, "This is your new SPI Mark six armour. We have given you the following upgrades. Listen carefully, I will not repeat them. You now have shields built into your systems, the armour itself is three time denser than your last set, but by increasing the size of the gel layer this takes some of the pressure off you. We replaced your camouflage cells with a system of short term active camouflage that will allow you to four minutes of complete stealth. Not as good as a Stealth Elite, granted, but effective enough for your purpose. Your powered units are still there, but we have increased them to the point that they are three quarters fully powered. You will still be not as good as a II, but you should be good enough to tackle anything less than a Hunter."
"If you're good, you might get one of the Mgalekgolo to teach you the ways of close quarters combat!" said a new voice.
Armoured heads swivelled to stare at the sight of the Elite, unarmoured wearing a leather apron with heavy studs in it. "Who let the split lip in?" asked Tom.
Tension immediately ran high in the room. Behind the Elite, three more Sangheili stood. They looked like they were itching to take revenge for that comment. The IIIs for their part looked like they were going to take the fight to them! The HAD quickly realised the problem and spoke quickly to dispel the negative vibes.
"Boys, this is one of our top Smiths, a true professional. He built your suits."
The Elite bowed, "Voro 'Vankarnet at your service."
The Spartans stood still and the Elite seemed to feel their confusion. Tactfully he stood. "If you ever need your equipment repaired I am always here and would consider it a privilege." He turned and walked out, dispelling the other Sangheili clustered around
Olivia was the first to speak. "Did he just bow to us?"
"It would seem that way O." Mark turned to the HAD.
The officer was seething. "You boys aren't familiar are ya? Well you listen up and listen good! Those Elites might have led the war for loadsa years, might've killed your friends, but they are all that has kept our economy alive all these years! You want to start a war with them again, be my guest, but you'll get no help from us." He sat back against the bench the armour had been on. "Me, I don't like the Elites any more than you do, but I know we need them. They saved our planet from utter extinction, they also carried the burden of battle when we had no ships left! If Lord Hood could work with them, then so can I. You need to decide if you will." He leaned in close to them. "Bear in mind also, that we woulda all died if it hadn't been for the Arbiter. He and the Chief are good friends, they led the fight in the last few months. We don't owe the Elites anything, but they owe us enough. They owe us for all they've done and they are going to fulfil their life debts if they have too!"
He left, leaving the Spartans standing there silent. All five of them sat there with their own private thoughts, musing over the HAD's words. The silence was broken by Mark who sat up, flexed his muscles and then collapsed into doing sixty press ups without a break. With a mighty push he kicked himself back up onto his feet.
"Oh yeah! The Mark is back!"
#############
The massive airlock doors slowly slid back. From where he stood the Marine lieutenant was expecting a series of blasts to permeate the steel, blast himself and his team to oblivion and the ship to be wiped out. It was only natural then, that he was sweating. What he saw nearly petrified him. A huge armoured figure stood in the doorway. It was at least seven feet tall and carried a huge spear. It's face was masked and dozens of thick dreadlocks extended from his head. He growled something at the officer who stood with his mouth open. Slowly the human regained his senses as behind him the marines stood clutching their guns.
"Greetings. If you are a friend you will place any weapons you carry on the table next to the doorway and follow me to the antechamber where my superior will talk with you." He said all this rather fast.
Hunter watched the human squirm and speak rapidly with some amusement. He knew full well that the humans would be terrified and as a result he had demanded to be the first in. Besides, as the Elder in charge of the hunt he would need to be on hand to discuss tactics. His mask automatically searched its human phrasebook and cobbled together a response.
"It is customary for a challenger to also put up his weapons for a meeting under truce. Fear not, I will comply."
Hunter motioned and the Predators all began to remove their weapons. Ten minutes passed before all of them had removed all their gear.
"Now," Hunter strode past the human officer who was staring at the pile of weaponry, most of it enough to kill his squad five time over, "Take us to your leader."
############
Lord Admiral Anderson was not in a happy mood. His discussion with the council and the other leaders of the military alliance had not gone well. Worse still he felt severely in trouble for being to one that had to tell Shepard. What's more Shepard's girlfriend was certain to try and kill him. No he was not happy one little bit. Silently he cursed the Alliance for this assignment. With a hiss of inrushing atmosphere he walked onto the Normandy his former ship and now his protégé's ship. With a nod towards Joker, who saluted, Anderson continued down the walk to the captain's cabin. There he stood waiting for Shepard to join him. Shepard entered followed by his combat team. The two humans, the krogan, the turian, the quarian and the asari all walked in and sat down.
"I assume you know of our predicament."
There was a round of nods.
"Well, there is a problem we now face. A ship must go through the Citadel and try to find out what is happening there."
"Who got the job Admiral?" Shepard asked from his seat.
"I hope they have a quick ship if they hope to evade fire." Liara said thoughtfully.
"Or tough enough shields to be able to be able to weather all that fire. I can't imagine what a whole Fleet of Reapers will be like!" Wrex had a short sharp laugh at that.
Garrus nodded slowly. "The captain would have to be a madman to agree to it."
"Nah!" Ashley snorted, "He'd just be ordered to do it and he would be sent by executive order."
Tali sniggered to herself as she threw in a quick joke, "It would have to be an invisible ship."
There was a chorus of laughter. Anderson cringed inwardly.
"Well that's just it Tali," he said slowly, "This ship does in fact have practical invisibility."
"Woah!" Shepard smiled, "Who'd you pick to go sir?"
#############
The Predators faced the Humans and Sangheili across the table. For a minute or two none spoke, the Predators slightly annoyed by the presence of armed troops, the New Covenant slightly intimidated by the size and ferocity of the Predators. Finally the Elder the Chieftain had appointed as Ambassador spoke.
"We mean you no harm. We come bearing the right hand of friendship and peace."
Of course none of the listeners could understand him. Hunter leaned across and spoke quickly to him. He repeated the phrase using his masks translator.
Lord Hood stared at the giant in a slight state of disbelief. Then he got right to the point. "You gave us warning, moments before we were attacked by a fleet of Old Covenant members. What I want to know before anything else happens is, why did you say that and how did you know?"
The Predators all gave a small grimace. This human was sharp as a razor, of that there was no doubt. The Ambassador used his mask to relay the message to the Chieftain, who signalled back that the Ambassador could reveal what they knew.
"The group that attacked you also contained Bad Blood Yautja, a whole clan, almost. For many years now they have been our enemies, a breakaway sect, a curse upon our race. Why we warned you is for this reason. Recently one of our storehouses was raided. A biological weapon of unimaginable danger was stolen. This Bad Blood wants to go to war with your kinds, to destroy them."
"Why do you have these weapons at all?" the Sangheili asked.
"Would you rather they were loose in the galaxy, for any to find and spread?" Hunter barked out.
Rtas responded as vehemently. "You should have destroyed it."
"It doesn't matter." Lord Hood stopped the argument before it got out of hand. "What now matters is how we stop them."
The Ambassador nodded. "We believe that he may have headed towards Earth, to infect the populace there, and to infect the Sangheili remnants."
"We dealt with the Flood, how can this be harder."
Hunter growled at that. "Don't be blind human, the Flood are the least of your worries."
Dr. Halsey who was at the table spoke quietly, but all there heard her. "If they've gone through that portal, they could be at Earth as we speak. I don't know where it leads."
"It's settled then." The Arbiter rose as did Hood. "We follow them. Divide the fleet into two, half to go to Earth directly, the other half to follow them. Let's move."
Hunter rose. "We are accompanying you. We have a debt to be repaid in full against the Bad Blood."
Hood shook his head. "Only three ships. The rest remain here or go with the other fleet."
For a brief space of time the Yautja conversed amongst themselves before the Ambassador nodded. "We will comply."
"Right, Let's go!"
------------------
Within the hour the Fleet had split. Four hundred ships headed for Earth at full speed, whilst the rest entered the portal.
##############
"I cannot believe we got saddled with this job!" Tali stood, glowering in anger, at the prow of the ship.
"Neither can I!" Ashley agreed. The three Normandy girls, as they were popularly joked about, were clustered together. "Where is Shepard so I can kill him!"
"I thought you two were seeing each other?" Liara asked.
Ashley threw her a look. Liara was highly intelligent, sweet natured, a great fighter, beautiful and talented, but she had a slight tendency to be somewhat naïve when it came to relationships. "It's because we're seeing each other that I want to kill him!"
That just caused more problems. "I don't really understand this." Liara shook her head at the intricacies of human relationships.
Tali quietly explained, "Shepard told Ashley he wouldn't do anything this dangerous. She doesn't want to lose him so Ashley will do her best to keep him out of trouble."
"Alright, I still don't fully get it, but I can get a hint of what is going on."
"Look on the bright side. At least Anderson and the Virmire are coming with us." Garrus was standing nearby and overheard a little of their conversation, believing it to be worry about the mission.
Ashley rolled her eyes. Another slow thinker. "As if we want another reminder of Kaidan's death for the commander to worry over. Every time we mention it he gets quiet."
Wrex who happened to walk past on his way to the helm to menace Joker smirked. "You wait till we get to fight Reapers and you'll see what that promise does to Shepard. Hello Twigs!"
Joker burned red at the use of the hated moniker. "Beat it krogan, or you'll wish the genophage had taken you."
"Oooh I'm real scared Clown, what are you going to do?"
Joker flicked off the artificial gravity segment under his feet for a moment, then acceleratd the ship. Wrex went flying!
"This ship is a living extension of my body Wrex, try to mess with me and she gets angry!"
---------------------
Shepards voice came over the comm. "Ready to go Joker?"
"Yes sir!"
"Light her up. Action stations everybody. I know you all hate the fact that we are in the lead on another suicide mission, but we have no choice. We do as we are told. Let's move out!"
The Normandy shot away from the fleet. Accelerating to a top speed the ship, accompanied by the Virmire headed straight for the Citadel. With a surge of energy the Mass Effect kicked in and the ships rocketed forward into Dark Space!
##############
Tom and Mark were watching out through the windows of the medbay as the Redemption went through the portal. Within a minute they were staring out the window at a nebula.
"Where in blazes are we Tom?"
"No idea, wait is that a ship?"
Far out from them, somewhat to the rear another ship hung in space.
"No way, there's a fleet of them!"
Over the comm. they heard the call. "All hands to stations!"
----------------------
Even as the hundreds of crewers leaped into their stations, gunners, techs, marines, the Citadel grabbed the First Combined and threw them in the same direction as the foregone Normandy. None knew it, but at that point right there, destinies converged, fate began to change and on the other side of the void, a galaxy far, far away was about to be changed forever. Nothing could possibly prepare anyone for what happened next.
There you have it, the first mention of Star Wars. Get ready for a big clash!
