A/N: Hello all in FanFiction, read the intro, it explains alot. I'll be leaving a rough equivelancy(or at least how I use it) for Transformer mesurements of time and distance and for every chapter on:

Astrosecond~ .498 seconds, milli-cycle~1 sec, cycle~1 min, breem~ 8.3 minutes, mega-cycle~1 hour, meta-cycle~1\2 hours, solar cycle~1 day, day~ 20 hours, orbital cycle~ 1 month, gigacycle~ 1 year, deca-cycle~10 years, vorn~ 83 years, stellar cycle~400 year, mechanometer~ 1 meter, vun~ hectometer, hic~ 1 kilometer

Thoughts, 'binary code', (alien language), "talking"

The SR-2 Normandy has just survived a trip through the Omega-4 Mass Relay and the destruction of the Collector Base. Shepard not only survived this impossible mission, he saved his captured crew and made sure everyone of his team made it off the base before it blew.

Shepard stood proud at the helm and looked out to the void of space. Leaning over to the terminal beside him, he spoke into the ships comm. systems and his voice echoed throughout the ships rooms and corridors. "It's been a long road getting here and I'm proud to have worked with each and every one of you. Our first priority is fixing the Normandy and giving her a new paint job so we'll be docking at Omega for the moment. All of you deserve a lot of down time and if anyone wishes to leave, we'll say our goodbyes on Omega, otherwise I thank you for staying with me through this and what is to come and I thank all of you for all you have sacrificed and have been through. On a related note, we need to build a galactic armada in time to repel the Reaper threat, so if anyone has ideas as to how we can bring the mercenary groups and major powers of the Terminus systems together, I'll listen to anything you have to say. Thank you everyone, for everything."

"Wow Commander if you ever retire, I think you could talk your way into politics if being the savior of the galaxy doesn't work out." A quick turn to see the Commander's expression made the pilot turn back to his terminal with a slight grin. "Just saying. Still, that was as good as the speech you gave when you got the first Normandy, Commander." Joker was the Normandy's pilot and one of the best damn pilots the galaxy had to offer. His bones may be brittle and weak due to the Vrolik syndrome in him, but that hasn't stopped him from helming a ship.

"Thanks Joker, we couldn't have done any of this without you." The Commander responded with an appreciative nod. Joker and the Commander have been friends before he took command of the first Normandy two years ago. They shared occasional chats with Joker giving witty remarks during each of them. His two year 'absence' did nothing to hinder the friendship the Commander and the pilot had.

"Well yeah, where else are you going to find someone with these stunning good looks and piloting skills?" the pilot asked, swiveling his seat to face Shepard and pointing two thumbs at himself, giving a smile.

"Omega if you do that every time I compliment on your skills." Shepard jokingly resounded with a smile on his face. The pilot kept his smirk as his seat swerved back into its intended position, resuming his work. The Commander put his attention back to the matter at hand.

"EDI, scan the ship for any outgoing comm. to the Illusive Man, old and new, and run a scan for any listening devices throughout the ship. If you find any, assemble a team and start removing all of them."

EDI was the ships onboard A.I. A.I.'s are thought to be dangerous with the creation and research branded as illegal in council space. The crew has come to trust her with their lives including a quarian named Tali'Zorah, but she still feels uneasy about her and the geth Legion.

"I have already begun disabling as many devices as I am capable, after being unshackled by Jeff." The A.I. confessed. "I will ask the necessary crew to help find the ones I can't detect."

Shepard gave a nod to the A.I.'s holographic image and added, "Can you give me an estimate as to how long it will take to finish all of the repairs to the Normandy?"

"Extensional damage to the hull and minor overheating in the ships engines will take around two days, specifically nineteen hours or more depending on the knowledge and effort the repair crew puts into the ship. As for the unexpected power draw the Thanix Cannon used, it variable are constantly changing, but all estimates lead to a three day period. As for a new coloring of the ship, it may be applied as soon as a majority of the hull is restored and can also be finished within the week, maybe sooner."

Shepard gave a nod and logged off. Most of the Normandy's systems were operating normally but the main concern was the holes the ship received, mostly from the Oculus attack. Shepard went to check the crew's status through his assistant Kelly Chambers.

The secretary seemed troubled when they found her, but now she was even calmer than before. She gave a smile to him as soon as he stopped before here. "Shepard I just want to thank you again for saving us from being…dissolved, by those things." Kelly is also the Normandy's unofficial psychologist, as far as Shepard knew. He found out much of peoples character through her and often went to here when one of his friends were either angry or upset, seeking her aid in suggestions as to how to help them.

"You're part of my crew, Kelly. I'll protect every member of this ship, you know that", Shepard replied earnestly. It made Kelly's smile widen.

"That is why all of us will follow you to the heart of this storm and continue to stand with you."

Giving a nod, Shepard continued his purpose for approaching her. "Anything I should be aware of with the crew?"

She took a while to collect her thoughts, "Tali, Garrus, Mordin, Zaeed and Miranda want to speak with you as soon as you're available."

"Thanks Kelly"

"Anytime Commander." Kelly responded and turned to face her console once more.

Deciding it was best to start with the closest, Shepard stopped in to chat with Mordin the salarian scientist. "You wanted to see me Mordin." He asked as soon as he entered.

Not even look at Shepard the busy salarian continued to work on his console, "Ah, Shepard glad you are here. Have good news for you." Salarians are a shot lived, fast pace amphibious race. Professor Solus was the fastest.

Curious and intrigued all Shepard could say was, "What is it?"

"Have begun working on Maelon's genophage cure, but not the reason I wanted to talk." Mordin turned to Shepard, "Tali'Zorah recently visited, came to relieve ailments. Better than I expected. Still recommend you sterilize before commencing to have coitus again."

"Thanks for the recommendation doc." I can only assume he means spending more time with her. "Is there anyone else I should worry about Mordin?"

Shaking his head Mordin replied, "Not at the moment. Everyone's at peak condition. Anyone else should be with Dr. Chakwas. Simply informing you of engineer Zorah's health condition." With a slight pause, he took a minor bow and raised his head back up with a smile. "Proud to have been part of this Shepard." With a returning smile and a nod, Shepard walked towards the Armory. As long as he was there he might was well ask for everyone's status personally.

Shepard walked through the small corridor and entered the armory just in time to find Jacob putting away an Avenger assault rifle. Jacob held the barrel of the stripped assault rifle and ran a cleaning cloth through it. In its naked form, the mass accelerator that helped to power the weapon was seen clearly through its containment unit on the table near the Cerberus Operative. The former corsair reminded Shepard a lot of Chief Williams when she was in the hangar deck of the first Normandy, pretty much doing the same thing he was doing. Jacob placed the stripped weapon to the side and wiped his hands with the cloth itself, turning to the Commander with a slight smile. "Commander, what can I do for you?"

"Just want to see how everyone's doing." Shepard responded, walking over to the tables and relaxing at its side.

"I'm good Commander. Other than wanting to see the Illusive Man's face when you decided to light up that station, I've got nothing I need right now."

"I'm sure Joker or EDI recorded it as we cut him off."

Jacob leaned against the same table Shepard used, "Ha, I think we can make a home movie from that. So now we just went from the fryer and into the fire, huh?"

"Yeah but if everyone is united we will have a fighting chance against the Reapers."

"It's just that politics, Commander, and as I'm sure you know, they will always find a way to screw everything up."

Jacob's hate for politics could rival that of Ashley's. With a datapad in his hand Shepard confidently said, "That's why I ordered EDI to hack and mine for all data she could gather up on the Reapers while we assaulted the Collector Base, Jacob."

The soldier laughed, shaking his head, "The Council and Alliance will feel like real asses when you show everyone that data. It's been an honor to work with you Commander, and it'll be that way until we kill off those Reapers." With that, the former corsair saluted to Shepard.

"The honor has been mine Jacob." Shepard responded with a returned salute.

In a recently scared city with the marks of war, a small band of Autobots hid in the shadows. The main streets and much of the skies were filled with Decepticons. This team was using the alleyways and abandoned building to hide from the military-like forces. The leader was female in red with a visor over her eyes and elongated shoulder guards. When she spoke it echoed like it was synthesized voice or was being heard from a speaker. "We need to split up. Leadfoot, take Overhaul and try to find a safe route out of here. Bluestreak and Tracks, cover them from the buildings if they need the support, while I get the target." Vibes was a young female Autobot but an excellent leader willing to die for the Autobot cause or her team.

Another Autobot, Tracks, a blue armored bot, voiced his annoyance of the mission, "Let's just make it out before I'm too dinged up because of this stupid mission." Tracks was always a bit of narcissist, especially during covert missions he would really play it up.

She ignored his remark, "I want radio silence. If you need to say something, uses Autobot binary code number five on the transponders." The lower the number on the binary code, the more secured it's supposed to be.

Tracks complained again, "Fine but I'm still rusty on the translation, just send it to Bluestreak." Everyone else nodded, as they moved towards their areas.

Through the shadows the female avoided the lights and vehicles. It has been nearly a mega-cycle since she had left her team but she had to have confidence in them. She worked her way to an armored bunker guarded by a pair of drones. She tossed a small disc-shaped device that stuck to the bunker above their heads. It opened and let out a powerful surge of EMP energy onto the two drones, disabling them and making them fall. Before entering she crushed their heads under her feet. Vibes also ripped one of the arms off one of the dead drone. Never know when one will come in handy. She slowly opened the large metal door looking for traps or ambushers waiting in the dark. Inside was a sole bot tied to a chair in the center of the room. It was Perceptor, Cybertron's best scientific mind ever and one of the Autobot's most invaluable member. She rushed over to him still looking around the room, "Perceptor? Perceptor this is Vibes, can you hear me?" He was beaten and filled with holes all over his chassis. His spark was still strong so Perceptor was probably in stasis lock.

She was about to touch him with her left hand when suddenly she heard tapping on her radio. It was her team, 'Leadfoot is in trouble. We require immediate assistance, Bluestreak.' Leadfoot's had sensor-deflecting armor and was fast, despite the sound of his name. Leadfoot was good at being stealthy in spite of his chassis being yellow and blue. Bluestreak, even though blue is in his name, he doesn't wear the color on him. Bluestreak looks just like Prowl, to the door handles 'wings' on his back, to the pair of cannons on his shoulders. Bluestreak may not like wars but he's hate for the Decepticons usually outweighed that. The only ones that could have blown their cover were Overhaul and Tracks. But Tracks doesn't usually risk his own hide and Overhaul may be young but he wouldn't jeopardize the mission.

Vibes untied Perceptor and carried him on her shoulder, "Come on sir, we're getting you back to Iacon." Tapping in code on her radio, 'Have acquired target. I'm heading to your location.' Even if Perceptor wasn't able to hear it, it still helped her, "Ok sir, let hope they've secured the area by the time we get there. Otherwise, Primus help us."

Making his way to the elevator and descending to the third deck, the Commander eventually exited the lift and walked to the Main Battery Room, finding a familiar turian lounged over the diagnostics terminal for the weapon. "Garrus, Kelly said you wanted to talk." Shepard said not long after he'd entered.

Turning, the turian responded, "Yeah, if you want to unite the galaxy it might be easier to work with Wrex and the other Terminus factions then ask the Citadel Council first. But that's just my opinion."

Shepard sat himself on a few boxes next to Garrus, "Funny, me and Jacob had a conversation like it just up deck, but we can set that to the side for the moment. I want to hear opinions Garrus, no suggestion is too crazy, maybe dumb. Sometimes I change my original plan because of some of the suggestions."

Garrus gave Shepard a turian's form of a smile, his mandibles rising and his upper 'lip' curving slightly. It's hard to tell when a turian was smiling but Garrus eventually found out how to explain it in the plainest way usual, and he was doing it now. "Well if you want constructive criticism, I think Miranda is more than happy to oblige." The two friends couldn't help but laugh a little after that. A minor pause later, Garrus got serious and said, "Anyway, Shepard I think you might want to be careful. You know…with your new relationship."

Shepard tried lying, unsure whether the turian knew it as a fact, or was trying to coax him into confessing, "What do you mean?"

"Come on Shepard don't play coy with me. I may not understand humans, but I've seen enough to know when one's in love, and Tali doesn't know how to hide her body language too well either." Garrus looked Shepard in the eye, "Not that I disapprove or anything but…some people might try to take advantage over you through her."

Shepard knew the many risks, and not just the ones that included her health as a whole. With a slight sigh, he began to speak. "I know all about her health and your worries of a relationship in the battlefield Garrus, and I won't let her get into too much trouble, so don't think it will compromise the mission. Tali was the first friendly face I saw after being brought back and she was willing to look past the fact I was with Cerberus to help me, just like you."

Garrus shrugged, "Well like two krogans I've worked with have said," he cleared his throat and continued with a hoarse, deeper voice trying to imitate one, "'You're where all the fighting's going to be'." They shared another short laugh before Garrus continued. "Besides you save me and not just my life; that mess with Dr. Saleon…and Sidonus." Garrus' eye drifted looking to the ceiling before going back to Shepard, "I guess I can understand your feelings. You really do care for her. Just try to keep your personal business behind locked doors." Garrus gave a friendly wink.

Shepard gave an appreciative nod and slid off his seat, standing up and patting his legs. "I'll keep that in mind, Garrus and thanks."

"No Shepard, I should be the one thanking you."

"Again, just like what Jacob and I did."

They shared another minor laugh before nodding to each other. Garrus turned back to the terminal as Shepard walked out of the room and straight for Miranda's office. After the mission, she just had something to say and he knew it. He also wanted to make sure that she had cut all ties to the Illusive Man. She was loyal to him, he knew it, but she was loyal to the Illusive Man far longer than she had been with him.

He stepped inside and allowed for her to configure who had walked into her office before asking, "Miranda?"

The Cerberus Operative looked up from her computer and had a subtle smile on her face, just like all those he talked before, "Commander, it's rather fortunate you've decided to come here just now." She motioned him to sit down. As soon as he did, she threw a datapad to him, which he caught easily. A detailed mapping of the SR-2 Normandy appeared on the device, along with several blue markers scattered around it. "The Illusive Man was more paranoid than I thought. I've found listening devises not on the original design plan."

"Did you just find them or were you aware he had them at all?" Shepard asked as he scanned through the pad. He still hated Cerberus for what they did to him, Toombs and the rest of his unit on Akuze were their fault after all, but he eventually trusted the new Normandy's crew. The Commander was rather weary, but still alert, of any people still loyal to the Illusive Man and Cerberus, but it all changed when he severed their ties and the crew gave him the loyalty they once held for the former Alliance spec ops division.

"Not initially. It was after Mordin handed me some of the monitoring devises he didn't destroy. I didn't recognize a few of them. I first just shrugged it off telling myself the Illusive Man decided to add more devises at the last minute just to watch you, but now I think they were here when the Normandy was being built."

"Can you remove all of them?"

"I couldn't do it alone."

The speakers in Miranda's office soon came on, transmitting the synthesized voice of the ship's A.I., "Shepard has asked me to call upon a select number of the crew to remove these devices. I have already asked Mordin and Legion and both have agreed to help in this endeavor."

"I should probably help them with this. After all, I'm the one who just found where most of them are located."

"That would be very appreciated, Miss Lawson." EDI discontinued communication.

"Is that all you wanted, Miranda?" Shepard asked, turning his attention back on the XO.

"Other than to thank you again for encouraging me to talk to my sister that was all I wanted to say, Commander. Before I forget; good luck with your late night project too." Miranda gave him a subtle wink suggesting something nasty.

Does she have to tease like that? Shepard shook the thought off before leaving Miranda's office.

Because he was on the crew deck, Shepard decided to go check on how Chakwas, Thane, Samara, Kasumi and Legion were doing. He was planning on seeing them anyways, so why not do it while he was there?

Exiting Miranda's office and turning easily to the Med Bay, he soon found himself interrupted by Mess Sergeant Gardner, who too greeted him with a smile. "Shepard I just like to let you know that no matter what happens, the crew will be behind you, one hundred percent. It's all we can do after you saved us, and I'm sure no one on this ship will say otherwise."

Shepard nodded, "It's good to hear that, Gardner. After all we've been through together; I'd be surprised if anyone said otherwise. I really appreciate that."

With an appreciative nod given back to him as well as a generous, but refused request to try out the chef's new dish, Shepard made his way to the Med Bay and soon came into contact with its chief medical officer. Before he could talk to her, the chef once again interrupted him, "Oh and I'll make somethin' extra special for Miss Zorah next time she comes by."

Well I guess scuttlebutt already did his laps.

With the interruption reaching the medics ears, she easily swiveled her chair to his direction and greeted him. "Commander Shepard, what can I do for you?"

With a chuckle Shepard replied, "That's my line doc. So, to repeat yourself, do you need anything Chakwas?"

Chakwas turned slightly on her chair and gestured to the crewman resting on one of its beds. "What I would like is a faster recovery rate for my patients, but I guess we can't all have what we wish for. Hawthorne's was the only one with significant injuries from the Collector assault, and it's mostly in part of how he tried to help Joker, resulting in him soon after being smacked to the side by a skulking Scion. Additionally on that note, I'd like to express my opinion on your decision to destroy the Collector base, commander. Though I am fully aware of the many advantages we could have gained from the knowledge locked deep inside of it, that hellhole deserved to be destroyed. That base was nothing but… evil."

"I'm glad your fine, doc, and I'll try to resupply your already depleted medical supplies as soon as we can. Don't hesitate to ask for anything or give your opinion. After what you've been through, it's the least you deserve."

"I won't Commander, and thanks again for saving all of us from that gruesome fate. Before I forget Commander, Tali came by to pick up some herbal supplements as well as some minor antibiotics."

Referencing his quarian engineer along with speaking of antibiotics soon brought a worried expression to him. "Is she alright? Did she need anything else?"

Chakwas smiled at his worried expression, knowing a little too well as to how close her commander had gotten to the engineer. With a short laugh, the doctor eased his worry, "No, nothing was wrong with her. I can't go into details but the short version is that she'll be fine. You did just confirm the Normandy's latest little gossip, however. Don't worry Commander I won't speak a word of this to anyone." Finished with her verbal exchange with the commander, she turned back to her workstation and began typing away once more at the medical report of several crewmen.

Shepard found it a little curious as to how the gossip started, but pushed it to the side as he figured things would solve themselves eventually. Moving to the side and past Hawthorne, the commander entered the A.I. core and sure enough, he found the geth platform standing upright at its usual position, the geth never tiring or lying down from his stance, but momentarily performing movements of its many body parts. The most noteworthy thing that distinguished this platform from other geth platforms is a hole in the body during its investigation of Commander Shepard. It repaired itself using parts of Shepard's old armor. As soon as the commander neared the geth, it clicked and purred silently, indicating its acknowledgement of his presence. Soon afterwards, it voiced it. "Shepard-Commander."

"Just wanted to check in, see how you were doing." He responded, crossing his arms.

The platform replied, "We are currently tasked with assisting EDI with removal of several surveillance devices scattered around the ship. We have currently detected thirty-plus devices within this deck alone, though miniature scrambling devices attached to them makes locating their exact position troublesome."

Shepard nodded in understanding. After all, Cerberus, as well as the Illusive Man, were technologically adept with their devices. "Can I ask you something, Legion?" Shepard asked, finding the moment momentarily perfect to voice his question. Legion usually didn't like to talk about anything in general and the reasons as to why were vague, but it didn't stop the geth from accepting it.

"Topic?"

"Have the Heretics returned to the rest of the Geth, yet?" After using the virus at the Heretic station the Heretics should have had ample of time to think about what to do.

"Not yet. The programs that have rejoined have not shown any signs of any negative ramification detected from use of the virus. Former Heretics are informing the Geth about armaments and defenses they had learned from Nazara, in preparation for Old Machine invasion."

"Can you get a copy of the data so we can help others as well?"

"Yes." Legion activated his omni-tool and was sending the data to EDI.

"Thanks for, Legion."

As Shepard turned and started for the door, Legion stopped him, "Shepard-Commander." Shepard turned to the side as well as turning his head in the geth's general direction, easily in the stance that would allow him to leave as well as look at the geth, "Geth have completed cleaning 96.53% of quarian homeworld, Rannoch, since the end of the Morning War. Colony Worlds are estimated 82.84% complete, rounded up."

"Wait, don't the geth live on the quarian worlds?"

Legion flapped its 'brows' open. "We live within space stations. Draw resources from asteroids. It is efficient. We maintain mobile platforms on creator worlds to clean rubble and toxins left by the Morning War."

"Why are you telling me this? Why not tell Tali?"

"We believe Creator-Tali'Zorah would wish to hear this information. We conclude it would be better for Shepard-Commander to tell her. We have observed that Creator-Tali'Zorah and Shepard-Commander have been spending more time together then previously observed."

At least it doesn't suspect anything, I think. "Alright Legion, I'll tell her when I see her."