The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of change.
The Reapers had reappeared after a three month absence, of course people had panicked at first but these didn't act like the same flesh dissolving, civilisation crushing machines that had bathed the galaxy in fire only a few short months ago.
These Reapers were helping people.
Even before the incident in the Serpent nebula Reapers had landed on every citadel homeworld and colony and started to rebuild. If attacked the machines would either ignore the aggressors or disable them. There were a few accidental deaths but on the whole the transition was remarkably peaceful.
A little under a week after the Serpent nebula encounter Reaper capital ships on all the war torn worlds of the galaxy began to broadcast a message from the council, like a living com buoy network.
The meaning of the message was clear: an armistice had been created, the conditions of peace and a true end to the war.
Terms and conditions
The first condition: the Reapers will cease to harvest organic or synthetic species regardless of whether or not they signed the armistice. To do so will be considered a breach of the armistice.
The second condition: all species signing the armistice will cease all offensive manoeuvres against Reapers and their indoctrinated forces. Failure to do so will be considered a breach of the armistice.
The third condition: all imprisoned sentient beings yet to be processed by Reaper harvester ships are to be freed immediately, regardless of whether or not their species signed the armistice.
The forth condition: The Reapers will reconstruct the mass relays but all species signing the armistice will not attempt to discover the secrets of relay technology except through their own independent research. To do so will be considered a breach of the armistice.
The fifth condition: the Reapers will not interfere in the governments of organic species, which will continue to be run according to the customs of the species in question. Any evidence of the use of indoctrination (on either side) will be considered a breach of the armistice.
The sixth condition: the Reapers will assist in reconstruction efforts on all planets belonging to species signing the armistice that where ravaged during their campaign, but will only rebuild to the level of technological advancement attained by that species before the war.
The seventh condition: The Reapers will retain the right to act as peace keepers sanctioned to intervene & prevent acts of war. The terms of this condition are detailed in a sub-treaty known as the 'Rights of Intervention Act' or R.I.A.
The eighth condition: The signers will be assumed to speak for their entire species, not just representatives of factions present, factions that wish to continue in a state of war must actively opt out. Aggression against any faction that has not willingly opted out of signing will be considered a breach of the armistice.
Unstated outstanding issues
The fate of the Reaper's indoctrinated slaves was never agreed upon, they were for all intends and purposes mindless and could never regain their former identities. So even after the war millions of husks, marauders and cannibals remained, though their seemed to be a mysterious absence of brutes, banshees and collectors possibly due to their rare or composite natures.
Eventually the Reapers would phase out indoctrinated slaves and instead start using entirely synthetic drones.
The Geth representative at the signing stated a wish for the Reapers to return their hacked mobile platforms, this issue was not considered major enough to warrant being a condition of the armistice but the Shepherd consented.
Conclusion
Signing species:
Acting human counsellor Steven Hackett signed for the Systems Alliance.
Primarch Adrian Victus signed for the Turian Hierarchy.
Acting Asari counsellor Irillia Svyon signed for the Asari Republics.
Acting Salarian counsellor Ghayne Rebil signed for the Salarian Union.
Iluminant Terygeron signed for both the Hanar Illuminated Primacy and the Drell under the terms of the Compact.
Irumderuksebrik signed for the Elcor Constancy.
Ambassador Din Kolack signed for the Vol Protectorate (having been allowed a separate vote by Primarch Victus).
Quarian Admirals Daro'Xen and Zaal'Koris signed for the former Migrant Fleet.
Governor Grothan Pazness signed for the Batarian hegemony.
Non-signing species:
Both the Geth and the Krogan refused to sign and retreated to Rannoch and into the DMZ respectively. However before leaving both the Geth representative (dubbed Pi) & the Krogan clan chief (Urdnot Wrex) agreed not to engage in hostilities, they simply do not wish to be bound by the terms of the armistice.
This meant that under the sixth condition of the armistice the Krogan where not eligible for Reaper aid in rebuilding Tuchanka.
As a result of the Geth's consensus the Quarians where forced to negotiate a complex treaty with both the Geth and the Reapers concerning where Reaper aid would be accepted due to the dual ownership of Rannoch.
With this one act the Shepherd had secured peace in the galaxy.