Chapter 12: Year Two
Omega station is cluttered with news of Shepard returning from the batarian home world today, for the past year and six months Commander Shepard has waged war on the Batarian Hegemony. The war began with a human colony attack in the Traverse. Shepard who began with attacking pirates and slavers, then moved on to conquer the entire Omega cluster.
After the death of Admiral Tali Zorah vas Normandy, the Quarians and the geth joined Shepard's efforts against the Hegemony. Shepard then soon gathered a krogan army to secure the remaining systems in the Terminus and has begun to occupy batarian colonies.
Since Shepard's war began attacks on human colonies have dropped, the Terminus Systems is stable and a government with the geth, Quarians, Krogan and Shepard has taken hold. Alliance news wire would like to thank the Commander for looking out for humanity when the council and the Alliance wouldn't.
"And Shepard also breaths fire and craps lightning!"
Shepard rolled her eyes at the silly comment and turned around to speak to her guest. "Do you have my information Kasumi?"
"Please!" The thief scoffed. "Remember who you're talking to."
"What did you learn?" Shepard asked.
"The Illusive man disappeared in 2188 and Miranda has been leading Cerberus ever since." Kasumi said. "Other than that I didn't find anything new."
"What did you find on Councilor Blare Feldmen?" Shepard asked.
"Typical politician, divorced and sent you to prison." Kasumi said in a matter of fact sort of way.
"Anything that sticks out?" Shepard asked.
"In 2189 he took a leave of absence for three months and when he came back he was calling for key members of alliance command to resign and to bring the old council to power." Kasumi replied.
"That's when he got made councilor and had you arrested."
"I don't like how that fits together." Shepard mumbled to herself.
"I don't either!" Kasumi added. "Shep I know you're the leader of a government and have an invincible army but…"
"What's wrong Kasumi?" Shepard asked.
"Do you need help?" Kasumi asked with a bit of worry in her voice. "This all stinks and we both know it."
"You've done enough Kasumi, I appreciate it." Shepard dismissed.
"No problem Shep, any time!" Kasumi said as she disappeared into tactical cloak.
"Just call when you need it."
The Citadel Council will be arriving on Station Omega today to acknowledge the Terminus Alliance established by Hazel Shepard and her allies. The council has provided the war effort with money and will now like to discuss trade and form a treaty with Shepard.
Rumors even say that the Council may be seeking to merge the two governments together. Omega news will be covering this breaking story.
"This meeting would be more productive if the quarian admiralty board and the geth where here." Marus Kiprol, the asari councilor said.
"I am the chairman of the Terminus Alliance, so I will be the one to address you three!" Shepard snapped.
"If we've offended…"
"No it's fine." Shepard interrupted. "I wouldn't be comfortable talking to the woman you sent to prison either."
"Shepard we…"
"Let's get down to business." Shepard interrupted again.
Salarian councilor Zeddik spoke up first. "The three of us have come to discuss a possible treaty or pact between the Citadel and Omega."
"I'm sorry but that is out of the question." Shepard replied. "I have no wish to join the Citadel."
"Shepard think about this!" Vasonis, the turian councilor yelled. "You have the Termius systems under control, an army of geth and the krogen at your side!"
"Let's not forget the quarians, the army of mercenaries that seems to grow every day and the fleet you've amassed!" The asari councilor added.
"What are you saying?" Shepard questioned.
"They think you may want to invade council space." The salarian councilor said.
"I have no interest in attacking the council unless provoked!" Shepard retorted.
"Then why have you begun to expand into colonies in the Terminus systems that belong to council races?" The asari questioned angrily.
"Those colonies are in Terminus Alliance space." Shepard answered coldly.
"That may be but you can't just take what you want!" Vasonis shouted.
"I've offered those colonies protection that you three can't give!" Shepard shouted back at the turian. "They asked me for help because of this council's inaction in the Terminus systems!"
"Now they won't have to worry about terrorists or pirates attacking, I can protect them all!" Shepard yelled.
"Who gave you the right Shepard!" the asari councilor shouted.
"You did when you refused to protect the colonies!" Shepard barked. "And now I'll protect everyone who asks for my help."
"We couldn't be dragged into a war!" Vasonis growled.
"You were afraid to do what needed to be done." Shepard said. "I'm not."
"What are you planning?" The asari councilor questioned suspiciously.
"This galaxy is in danger and you three don't even know it." Shepard answered.
"From what?" The salarian councilor asked. "You've crippled the batarians and shut down many criminal organizations."
Shepard laughed. "You still think this is about the batarians?"
The council looked puzzled and then looked at Shepard. "This was never about the batarians was it?" Marus the asari councilor asked.
"Your right it never was." Shepard answered.
"Then why occupy their colonies, why destroy their military and government?" The turian councilor questioned.
"I want to make sure that they never become a threat again." Shepard answered coldly.
"How do you intend on doing that?" the salarian councilor questioned.
"Once the geth and my army crush all batarian resistance, I'll clam all batarian worlds as my own and force their people to except my rule."
"Shepard you're talking about enslaving an entire race of people!" The asari councilor exclaimed.
"The Hegemony rules with an iron fist, the people will accept me as their liberator and will welcome the fall of their former tormentors." Shepard dismissed.
"You are as much a terrorist as the slavers you took down." The salarian councilor snorted.
"You three really think I built an army to fight the batarians?" Shepard asked. The council looked at Shepard confused at what she meant.
"Then why do all this?" The asari councilor asked. "If not to fight the Hegemony…who?"
Shepard sighed and then looked back at the dumbstruck councilors. "I don't think I'll say just yet."
"The only logical outcome is war if you don't cooperate with us Shepard!" The Turian councilor shouted.
"You three are looking out only for yourselves." Shepard said.
"This is obviously going nowhere." the asari councilor sighed.
"Not if you three insist on complaining on the way I do things." Shepard replied
"We've had enough, we are leaving!" The turian councilor spat.
"Then I take it you won't help me?" Shepard grunted. "Very well."
Shepard grabbed her pistol and pointed it at the councilors. "If you will not be my knights, then you three will be my pawns."
"You can't keep us here!" The turian councilor shouted.
"Taking us hostage will be an act of war!" The asari councilor yelled.
"Yes and while the Citadel bickers on what to do next I'll move my fleet into the Traverse." Shepard teased.
Shepard suddenly felt her feet move off the ground and her back slammed into the wall behind her. "You dare threaten me!" Marus Kiprol, the asari councilor shouted. "I was an asari commando before I was a councilor!"
"I wish the old asari council member had this much nerve." Shepard grunted.
"Watch your mouth!" Marus shouted. "I should have had you executed instead of sent to prison!"
Shepard laughed at the asari. "I could have saved the Destiny Ascension, but we all know how that turned out."
The councilor slammed Shepard once more. "I'll personally over see your tribunal and execution Shepard!"
"Not today." Shepard grunted as her omni-tool flashed. A damping grenade shut off the councilors biotics. Shepard aimed her pistol at the asari and took a shot, hitting the asari in the head.
"Now I think we've got a failure to communicate." Shepard exhaled as she walked over the dead councilor.
"Shepard you…you murdered a councilor!" The salarian councilor exclaimed.
"Well I figure I only need you two." Shepard said nonchalantly.
The two councilors stared in horror at Shepard. They didn't know if she would kill them both or if she meant what she said about taking them hostage. "Wha…what do you want Shepard." The turian councilor stuttered trying to keep his composure.
Before Shepard could speak the humming of engines echoed in the room. Outside the window a shuttle floated just outside the building. The shuttles hatch opened and a masked woman opened fire. The two councilors were shot immediately; Shepard took cover under a table and returned fire.
The shooting stopped, Shepard loaded the next heat sink and ran to the shuttle. Shepard jumped into the shuttle and pinned the woman to the floor. The woman's omni tool flared and the shuttle moved erratically away from the building, knocking the both of them out of the shuttle and onto the roof of another building.
Shepard sluggishly picked herself up. "You know you really fucked up my plan." Shepard grunted, picking up her pistol. "Now I have to move things a lot faster than I want."
The woman also picked herself up. "I'm sorry to disappoint you." She replied sheepishly.
"I just wanted to compare my abilities to the great "Hazel Shepard"!" She mocked.
"Who sent you?" Shepard questioned.
"First things first." The woman said as she activated her omni tool and overheated Shepard's pistol.
Shepard's weapon burned in her hand. The woman ran at Shepard with a knife drawn. Shepard moved out of the way and grabbed the woman's arm; the woman ducked and swept Shepard's leg in a single motion.
"Gotten slow granny!" The woman teased. "I'm finding it hard to believe that Miri wants us to follow you."
The woman stood over Shepard with her foot pressing down over her throat. "You my friend are a relic of the past."
Shepard took another pistol that was strapped to her leg and fired three times into the woman's stomach. "You…cheated." The woman grunted as she fell to the ground.
"You talk too much." Shepard rasped. Shepard stood up and walked to the woman. "Who sent you?" She demanded.
"The same people responsible for your resurrection." The woman coughed.
"Cerberus?" Shepard asked.
The woman laughed. "No shit Sherlock!"
Shepard rolled her eyes and shot the woman once more, killing her. Shepard walked over to the woman's body and removed her mask. Shepard was shocked to find out that the woman under the mask was…her.
End.
AN/ I hope this chapter didn't drag for too long, this chapter was going to be much longer but I decided to cut it down and remove some things.
Keep reading and please review.