The only thing in this I believe myself to own in this is the exact wording and any new characters I make up, like with most fanfictions. If you recognise any of it as yours, it almost certainly is unless you're claiming all of it, because I sure as hell remember coming up with this on my own.

Now go and read.

Edit: For some reason I remembered Batarians as Baatarians. That has been fixed. Thank you guest reviewer!

AN: To address 'Low Powered Humanity' complaints/thoughts [Will be deleted later, a copy will in the previous chapter], and some other issues addressed by review [and in PM response], that aren't addressed in this chapter. Can be skipped.

For the third contact war, I want you to imagine something.

Imagine if the entirety of Asia attacked Australia and all the little islands above it on the map, with the tech levels of Australia and all their little islands swapping for their military, and no one coming to help with the threat of nuclear weapons until Australia and islands was almost conquered.

That just about covers what happened.

Sure, humanity has lasers, but the big group doesn't have Firaxite/Alien Alloy armors, there's no psionics advantage in space [in my fic] unless you have the ridiculously large psi-bays of the BiteGeists being used for it instead of teleporting about. Everyone has much less experience with Mass Effect... Oh, and people are planning for a entirely different enemy, one for whom you need space domination, for whom missiles and railguns are useless, for soldiers that can't be truly equalled by your own.

And just like that, in space, the tech advantages start poofing in clouds of smoke, especially when you consider the Alliance lacks effective shields during the war [they were considered to just be needed for micro-meteorites], and their armor is effectively built wrong, since they're expecting to deal with DEWs... Basically the Alliance and the Remnant were prepared for an entirely different war, and were attacked by someone who utilised their assumptions against them and by luck of the draw attacked their weakest points naturally.

However, this turned Humanity into a race of glass cannons for the most part due to the lasers. To the benefit of the A-R Alliance, there's the fact that just about every vessel in the invading fleet has been damaged to some degree and will need repairs… And that's just about every vessel the Turrian Hierarchy had to respond to anything outside of the usual… And now the Hierarchy needs to look at new armour because humanity has brought DEWs to the table as something beyond point defence.

So yes, short term, Humanity comes out much worse than would be expected by some, mostly those that forgot orbital bombardment was most definitely a thing, especially where you have orbital supremacy.

However, the Turian Hierarchy also comes out with a nose so much bloodier than usual, you may even end up wondering if they're going to die of blood loss… Keep reading and you'll find out in this chapter.

As to another point I thought worth mentioning, the Turians did hire [Turian] mercenaries in canon, I just added Asari to the list so that the Turians could actually communicate with humanity without miming and guesswork and 'Somehow, the Turians could suddenly demand surrender.'.

"It's not every day that scheduled meetings are interrupted by a new alien species showing up at the citadel, requesting assistance from Turian invasion, while speaking in fluent Salarian for it's speed… I should have known then I was going to end up having a migraine on a more or less permanent basis for the next month."

Counciller Tevos, On Humanity

As the Turian stand-down signalled the arrival of the Asari, the Asari arrival signalled the withdrawal of the Turians from A-R alliance space, and an informal ending of the third contact war. Rather than immediately let aid ships through, the Asari were politely requested to blockade the relay into the Alliance space from it's entry point, not end point, while the Alliance government re-established communications and could begin calming it's people, something supported by the Remnant [Who the Asari were rather weary of.], who were requesting to evacuate Aiur and several non-terrestrial colonies to ensure the survival of it's citizens. It was nearly a month before the Alliance allowed aid vessels into their territory and performed more than formal notifications that they still existed, and the government hadn't fallen to anarchy.

Of course, about two weeks of the delay were for the Remnant, who quietly slipped out several stealth vessels and comunication beacons, while politely requesting aid vessels assisted the Alliance's colonies first, and came to assist the Remnant second, if ever, a request that was allowed and obeyed without any hesitation.

Not many people wanted to assist those that appeared to be living alongside AI's that were perceived to be Geth in about all but name.

In the meantime, Turians suffered the worst PR blow in history, not only for attacking another species inn all out warfare without acceptable provocation, the near-breaking of Citadel conventions with the force of their planetary bombardment, but for failing to contain and ultimately losing to Humanity.

A great deal of Qurians held what parties they could at hearing that the Turians collective nose had been bloodied so badly. In the words of Admiral Zorah, 'It's like they were caught with their talons in the cookie jar, having already eaten a number of cookies, without having figured out they were Salarian cookies instead of Turian cookies.'

When the Salarians were questioned as to why there was no word of the invasion from the STG, the official answer was that they only knew of fleet movements [Like the Spectres.], not what they were doing. The answer sceptics and conspiracy theorists favoured was that they not only knew, but were looking forward to stealing information from the Human race after the Turians had finished doing all the hard work of pacifying them.

While waiting for formal diplomatic discussion to begin, the Turians were dealt severe sanctions much to the STG's quiet alarm, and were forced to gather all materials and captives taken from the invasion to be handed over at the first diplomatic meeting, where the Turians would also receive their dead and captives. The STG was able to secretly procure certain samples taken by the Turians for study, however they were unable to take enough to make any real headway scientifically.

-XXXX-

The Citadel, Council Chambers

"The A-R Alliance diplomatic vessels have arrived."

The Turian councillor's mandibles tightened slightly. "What vessels?"

"… It's the captured TSF frigate Steelplate which they are extracting crew from, the ASV cruiser Religion's Decree, the XAV frigate Bloody Jester. The XAV Bloody Jester is currently extracting human crew members from the TSF Steelplate, and requests ships do not board until it is turned over formally in negotiations, claiming that it contains the captured Turians for transfer. The ASV confirms that the XAV Bloody Jester and TSF Steelplate are free of AI's, with the XAV Bloody Jester confirming the ASV Religion's Decree and TSF Steelplate are likewise clear."

"Why Sparatus, we knew you were doing poorly, but having your ships captured-"

"Save it Valern, I'd like it if we could have a nice, clean session in front of the humans, you can go back to ridiculing us after they've gone."

"Ok but I bet it'll make for quite the interesting story once I find out how it happened."

"Do let me know when you do. I'm just dying to know myself."

"Tevos this is Vasir, the Remnant X-Com guard contingent apparently consists of two of their MECs armed with siege gear in addition to an X-Com operative, permission to tell them to pick a different compliment in regards to their MECs?"

"… Request that they at least reduce the number of MECs to one if not replace them, but do not force the issue… How do they plan on using the transit system with those anyway?"

There was a short moment of silence.

"They planned on attaching the MECs to the hover cars if necessary, despite their display of biotics and manoeuvring jet's I've told them to get more operatives that aren't in MECs, they'll be a delay of several minutes."

"Understood… I take it that the Alliance has a saner guard contingent?"

"Only in that it's not planning on bringing flame throwers and mortars."

Velern failed to hide his amusement while Tevos began rubbing her temples.

"Of course… They're afraid, why wouldn't they be. How'd C-Sec and everyone else react?"

"Loss of bladder function in some cases, large amounts of curiosity in others… I think there's a Krogan or two here wondering how'd they'd fare against one of the MECs."

"... I presume you know not to let that happen."

"While I find the idea amusing I'm smart enough not to wish to cause a diplomatic incident."

"Good. Let us know when they're almost here."

-XXXX-

The procession up the steps to the council chamber's main area was rather larger than usual, even though the security teams of the Human ambassadors had been cut down somewhat for the actual meeting.

On the edges of the steps came two lines of C-Sec, each unusually well-armed, and in the very middle and leading was Spectre Tela Vasir.

To the left was the Alliance diplomatic party, consisting of two 'Jensen' augmented commissars armed with heavy plasma rifles, up-armour aug body suits and kinetic barrier belts, the ambassador between them being the young Lady Montilyet, a spokesperson for the Alliance. On the right was the Remnant diplomatic party, consisting of two X-Com operatives in Archangel pattern power armour, one armed with a laser repeater, and one armed with what was referred to only as a HVCPC, which appeared very much like the weapons used by X-Com CNDRs and CARVRs.

STG however confirmed that it was actually the plasma version, with setting that'd turn it into what would in effect be a plasma flamethrower just as the meeting started, however with no time to cause the diplomatic party to turn back, several operatives sat blanching at the prospect of the weapon being turned on the councillors, as it would likely still maim or kill them past their extended barriers.

The ambassador for the Remnant was Colonial Liaison Donnel Udina, who was inwardly laughing that they managed to get so close to the council with a HVCPC [Or, Heavy Variable-Cast Plasma Caster.] going through the front door.

"Greetings. I'm Councillor Tevos, I welcome you to the Citadel on the behalf of the council races."

"Councillor Tevos, on the behalf of the Sol-Systems Alliance I, Lady Montilyet greet you, and look forward to a speedy resolution of the current conflict."

"Councillor Tevos, on the behalf of the Remnant I, Donnel Udina greet you, and look forward to the swift restoration of peace that we may all continue with our lives."

-XXXX-

Relay 314 Incident: Immediate term effects and expected short-long turn results

Here's my compiled report, I'm sure that the broker will love this.

V'nena

Immediate term:

As has been wildly spread, the Human race has joined the council, with the Remnant remaining outside of the Council in a manner similar to those who live in Terminus space. Except they have their own embassy attached to the alliance embassy, the official stance on which is that it'll allow swift communication between the Remnant and the Council should the need arise, as well as keeping the lines of communication open.

So, the Remnant is a little more official than Omega, and if you could enter it's boarders it'd probably be a damn sight cleaner. Due to the Remnant refusing to give up AI's [ByteGeists] and genetic modification, it's officially 'quarantined' by the Alliance. Remnant civilians are allowed out of Remnant space into Alliance and then Council and/or other space, after having gone through security checks to ensure they aren't brining any super soldiers or AIs through. Of course, with their stealth ships, they can effectively pass through at will, simply sending the vessels through alongside legal travellers.

Speaking of stealth ships, that's how they managed to not have their AI's forcibly taken and their use of genetic modification permanently stopped. They launched a number of stealth ships before the war was officially over, and threatened the Council with recordings of major colonies, claiming that they had ships containing 'Miasma-Class MELD Mist and it's generators'. They also had clip they showed for how destructive the 'Miasma' can be... It's rather grim, an X-Com operative on a scouting operation shortly after landing on Renebus walks into the mist and doesn't notice anything for a few moments, suddenly notices armour damage, and runs out rather concerned. He's dead within 10 seconds of noticing the damage, 15 seconds all up, and that's with power armor.

While that wasn't revealed, the fact that every Turian captive [almost exclusively taken by X-Com] was killed, and not all of starvation and combat caused injury... Many of those killed were killed in vivisection, or dissected afterwards was. Combined with the use of AI's and Genetic modification, the Remnant is seen as the less numerous, more advanced and politer Krogan… So Krogan but scarier, because you don't know what they're planning, and they actually do so.

The Alliance however gave in fairly peacefully in return for favourable rulings as to war crimes, heavy debts and sanctions enforced on the Turians, Turian vessels having to maintain a 10 relay jump distance from Alliance Territory at all times, and finally a suspension of the current Turian councillor and review into Turian members of C-Sec ['Because if this is how they handle galactic law, I shiver at the thought of their policing.']. A small number of the alliances AI's are being stored in a cold sleep under Spectre monitoring in case they're ever needed, and the rest were destroyed in return for high quality VI's and their creation. They also considered their lasers safe enough to trade, particularly since if they didn't the STG would just steal them due to their ubiquitous nature, which is going to cause problems everywhere as Kinetic barriers suddenly become much less useful and still needed because of everyone still packing kinetics, that little introduction is considered it's own little nightmare.

As is to be expected, the Turian Hierarchy has taken a brutal beating, and STG has begun coming under quiet scrutiny, as many would rather believe it screwed up in it's illegal spying operations on allies instead of Turian info-war security having improved enough to hide the incident.

Short Term

Previously mothballed Asari fleets are going to need to take up the slack left by the Turian's Hierarchy's currently rather wounded fleets, and there are rumours that Batarians may be called in to pick up some of the slack given the aged nature of these Asari fleets. [Various predictions give a 30% chance in optimal conditions, including Batarians lobbying for it and stepping up false flag operations, so it's unlikely but possible.]

The Turian's economy is undergoing a recession, and may fall into a depression even with the Volus being forced to struggle to keep them afloat. Normally low reported numbers of separatist supporters are surging, and are believed to be likely to increase for some time.

With the Human's currently focusing on rebuilding, it's unlikely that they'll play much of a role for quite some time. However I wouldn't have thought they could have even survived 3 contact wars, so be prepared for a surprise. Fortunately Alliance communications aren't as well protected as Remnant communications, and we believe we'll have spies and taps available within the next two years, with a shortest expectation of 6 months for taps. Spies however will have to be very well rewarded or threatened given expected conditions for aliens.

Pirate raids are expected to boom, however this is most likely to be true in the case of real pirates, it's expected that state-funded piracy will step down slightly, which will help identify such groups as a side benefit.

Finally, I expect 'restructuring' to occur within both the STG and the Brooker network. I'm currently having fond daydreams of lumpy Salarian heads rolling down a flight of stairs, but I think the accidents involved will leave them attached to their bodies.

Long Term

We expect the Collapse of the Hierarchy. Either through fragmentation or Civil war making a much 'freer' variation of the same thing. It's believed that the Asari and Salarians will try to prevent the Turian's collapse as they only want to punish the Hierarchy, not destroy it, but the numbers of factors involved mean that we can do nothing more than suspect and use information as it becomes available.

Given the location of the Volus home world, they may begin looking at relays for another route to their home world through council space, before ending their agreements with the Hierarchy and building their own fleet, in addition to the small beginnings of a fleet that have been observed.

Should the Turian Hierarchy collapse, the Batarian Hegemony will almost certainly take up a large amount of it's role in patrolling the galaxy to the detriment of many, however we're likely to earn much more than usual selling information on slavers and pirates in such an event.

Too little is known to successfully predict the actions of the Alliance long term, however correlations between the Hierarchy and the Hegemony have been drawn, and some prediction software is being created, as well as human history being analysed.

-XXXX-

"Between STG efforts and your quiet relief, it looks like the Hierarchy is stable for now, especially with many elected officials moving out of office to make way for separatist supporters."

The Salarian councillor looked at Tevos with a hint of confusion.

"I didn't think you'd taken to drinking this early. I take it you're regretting your decision to handle the Remnant issue yourself?

"By Athame yes. If it isn't protests over them having AIs, or us not controlling their Relay exploration, it's constant complaints that they have AI and we don't or people wanting to pass through the Relay to try and perform a tech trade, almost as if the Remnant was even letting people who had technical training or those with advanced tech out, and I'm not including their stealth pasted ships… I swear, when I found out whoever figured out how to turn that cloaking mist from their second contact war into a paste suitable for starships I'm going to throw them into a black hole."

"Careful Tevos, you know they've stopped their ageing, someone may call you on doing that. Anyhow, you know the operative who dropped 314 balls?"

The Asari councillor ground her teeth.

"What?"

"The Shadow Brooker wanted to see if we'd let his head roll down a flight of stairs and give him the recording in exchange for some rather useful information. It's already being put to use managing the Batarian's, but I thought you might like a copy of the recording. There's only so much catharsis you can get from watching a Turian get shot by other Turians at their executions for gross incompetence."

"… I must be drunker than I thought since I'm even entertaining the thought… Send it to me, I'd like to see the morons head roll… All in hand and information that meant little… If I didn't have a clue as to what you were doing to him I would have had him extracted… You're very lucky the STG isn't actually allowed to spy on council members, at least nowhere near to the extent you do."

"Tevos, just watch the clip, possibly with a drink in one hand. Try doing your evillest laugh as you watch the clip, or perhaps saying 'You have failed me for the last time.'. Trust me, do it one or two times, and you'll be ready to put at least another hours work into today."

Valern closed the connection, and after a while, telling herself that she was bad for even thinking about watching the clip, Tevos played it…

It helped quite a bit all things considered. Almost enough to be willing to go over the Batarian's proposal to take over more of the Turian's patrols, and the Humans proposal to keep the Turian's council seat empty until the Turians could properly return to their role, given it had not been filled yet due to Turian political manoeuvring.

Then she played it again.

She eventually fell asleep, watching the idiots big horned head roll down the stairs, lying on the couch with just a little bit of wine left in her glass.

-XXXX-

Omega

"Black display, this is black actual, you read?"

"Yes black actual. Is the meet and greet a go?"

"The Queen's fond of visiting friends, particularly those who bring light shows."

The words ticked over in Rios' head.

"It looks like her kingdom will be getting some new street sweepers. Do you have the queen's new jewel?"

"The flesh markets were happy to give him up."

"Meet me at the drop-off, it'll be fun watching the striated become smooth."

And with those words, the 'ex'-X-com operative hurried down the streets of Omega.

So that's a nice little game... The Turians are relying on the Batarians, Asari, Salarians and the Shadow Brooker to not to collapse into squabbling nations, is crippled by debt, and has effectively lost it's council seat. The Remnant's place is secured by method of threats of nano-warfare attacks being launched by stealth vessels that the council can't detect, and though the Alliance is quiet, X-Com is getting some valuable combat expertise performing deep black ops [Oh they are so black it's not funny] to help make way for the Alliance entering stage right... Despite it being controlled by a regime they despise.

Oh, the Volus have yet to leave the Hierarchy, but they're looking for an out.

Finally as to this specific chapter, the point was raised that canon standard Salarian STG would not have dropped the ball like this and forced intervention sooner, and that they wouldn't have tried waiting for pacification.. After agreeing with him [I'm not totally stealing the LPverse] I thought about some of the ways various spy agencies have screwed up, and I decided to go the route of a overworked operative missing some data in the pile and moving on, and as has happened, the ball stopped at him and no one was able to figure out what was going on other than the Hierarchy was moving fleets.

Oh, and some VI's were updated, but it doesn't make for a good film.

In any case, this also marks the last nightly update, to turn into a mono/bi weekly update. These chapters have been rushed slightly in the need to get them out [For a number of reasons.] and it shows in places, however I'm in it for the long haul, and hope to entertain you on the ride.

Oh, and anyone wanting to draw art of MECs attached to a aircar and being pulled along, let me know and I'll tell you what MECs currently look like. And despite being almost Omake worthy, I promise you it will happen, and it will be every bit as funny and stupid as it sounds.

Next stop, who the hell is Shepard in this world?