A/N: I finaly got around to resuming my writing. I am sorry for the delay, got cut up in enjoying the summer with the familly and other stuff like a new job and all. I will try and not take as long for the next part of my story. Please enjoy this one in the mean time.

Chapter 2

Colonel Jonathan Harley walked in the control room with a cup of coffee in his hand. The room wasn't very big and it was filled with console and other equipment which served only one purpose, to keep the colony safe. Dark energy defense grids, AA guns and much more, all controlled from this point.

Elysium was the pride of his people, the proof that humanity was able to not only colonize planets but also to be self-sufficient and well protected.

Harley was in charge of its security now. Ex-military he had been honorably discharged a while back and decided to be useful and help secure this colony. He appreciated the calm of colonial life now, he had grown tired of the constant firefight that was part of the military life. Most of the people he had served with were now high ranking officer, but it was thanks to those friends that he had managed to get this job as head of the security force here. To serve and protect… and meet nice beautiful tourists. He smirked at the thought as he was trying to ignore the pounding headache he was feeling due in part to the wild party he had the night before. He remembered how the night had ended, or more to the point how the morning had ended, with a beautiful blonde who was on Elysium on vacation. His smile widen at the memory.

"I see someone had some fun last night" said a young officer as he saw Harley walked in with that big smile.

The voice made him look up. "Shut it Adams… and keep it down you two" he said as he pointed at two more officers in the back off the room that were obviously having fun at his expense.

Some noise from his console got Adams attention once again. "Sir. I'm am reading small fluctuation in the defence grid to the Northern part of the city" he said with a more serious tone.

He growled at the young man. "There is no need to yell LT. I'm right next to you" he said as he got closer to take a look at the console himself.

Adams surprised started to protest "But Sir I didn't…" he stopped at Harley's renewed growling.

"Never mind that… what do you have?"

At that moment a big explosion could be heard from outside. The light in the room flickered for a second.

"What now?" he said with a very annoyed tone in his voice.

"The grid is down in the northern section, Sir!" the LT'S reply.

"Reports are coming in, Sir! Our security teams are under heavy fire!" shouted one of the other officers from his consol.

"Maxwell, instruct our team to direct the civilians to the bunkers and get every one that is off-duty to arm themselves and be ready to join the fight." Harley ordered. The young officer at the consoles only nodded before he turned to his console to do what he was asked.

"I want to know who we are dealing with and I wanted to know yesterday, Adams" Harley said.

"Batarians Sir! If I had to guess I'd say slavers" Adams replied. "Shit... get me the Alliance on the comm… Now!" This is not good was all Harley could think to himself.

A bit shaken by the explosion Shepard looked around to try and understand what had just happened, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Alan, he was speaking to her. After a moment she managed to focus back her attention to him. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" she heard him ask with her ears still ringing from the explosion.

She shook her head "No, I don't… I don't think so. A bit shaken but otherwise I'm alright" She paused looking around "What's going on here?" as she looked at the devastation that had just occurred next to them, the fountain that they were standing next to a few minutes ago was now totally destroyed. She could hear a distant fire fight not too far from where they were, civilians were running away and some even screaming in panic. "I don't know but I sure as hell intend to find out" he said as he started walking towards the unmistakable sound of a battlefield. All she managed to do was a weak nod as she followed him towards the unmistakable sound of gun fight and the occasional explosion.

"What can you tell me on the situation Colonel?" ask the Alliance Admiral with a stern presence and a unshakable calm.

"From what we can gather, at least three ships Sir. But we are in bad shape, I'm not sure we can hold them off until you get here" there was a silence between the two man. "I don't have the man power Steven, we both know that"

Admiral Hackett looked grim at the comment. "Regardless Jonathan, you will have to do with what you have and hope for the best until we can reach you."

"I will, but be warned old friend… if I die here I plan on haunting you as a ghost." Harley said with a smile.

Which made Hackett laugh. "I'll look forward to that, but in the mean time I would rather you stay alive."

"I'll do my best as long as you get your ass here in time to enjoy the fun."

Steven chuckled at the comment before ending the communication. "I'll see you soon, Hackett out!"

As the image of the admiral vanished from the console Harley let out a sigh knowing full well that his old friend would not make it in time. I'm not going down without a fight, he thought.

Suddenly the comm. system went dark. "Sir, we just lost all communication with all units, off world to. We also lost automated control over the AA guns but it seems that their emergency system kicked in so it should buy us some time. But for the last report the Batarians were concentrating their attacks to the north."

Harley growled out of annoyance this time "Gear up people, we're going to the front."

"But Sir, unlike you we don't have a military training, we're just law enforcers."

"I don't care Adams and neither does those bastards out there. You swore to defend the people of this colony and that's what you're ganna do." On those word he stepped in front of him and forcefully pushed a rifle to the lieutenant's chest.

Shepard and Alan had quickly reached the hot zone. They took in the battlefield fast before taking cover next to one of the security officer.

"Who's in charge here" Alan asked.

"Sir this is no place for civilians please make your way to the bunkers where it will be safe" Shepard couldn't help it but burst into a small laugh, which was rewarded by a stare from Alan.

"Something funny Private?" he asked her more seriously.

"No Sir. I just never thought someone would refer to you as a civi, Sir" she answered with a smirk wich made him smile in return.

"Wait, you're Alliance soldiers?" the man blinked as they both nodded as an answer. "Thank God, the Colonel will be pleased to see you" He said as he pointed beyond the two soldiers "Speaking of the devil"

An older man took cover with a few more officers on his tail as he joined the group. "Report Parker, and please tell me you were sending those two civis to safety?" They started to smile at one another almost laughing at the comment.

"Lieutenant Miller, Alliance Sir! And this" he pointed at Kathryn "is Private Shepard. We are here to offer our assistance"

"Well I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth." He looked at his man and asked "how bad is it?"

"Very bad Sir." He opened his omi-tool to show hem a map of the area "they have breach the city wall here, and have tried to flank us ever since. We have been able to keep them at bay but that won't last long"

"we only need to last long enough for the Alliance to get here" with that he tried to hand Shepard his rifle.

"If you don't mind Sir I'll take that shotgun at your back if it's all the same to you."

"You won't hit shit with that at this distance kid" handing her the weapon she requested.

"Oh but I intend on looking them in the eyes when I send them to their grave… Sir!" she smirked, taking the weapon. giving a worried look to her lover, she nodded and made her way from cover to cover to get closer to her targets.

"What kind of a soldier tries to get up close and personal like that?" he asked more to himself, then looking at Alan who was obviously amused "What's up with that one?" he asked him nodding in Shepard's direction as he handed him a rifle.

"Biotic vanguard Sir! I suggest you don't piss her off either" he said with a smirk taking the rifle that Harley was offering him "She can get very nasty."

"That bad huh?"

Alan nodded at the question with a glimmer in his eye.

"Good thing she's on our side then, I suppose" Harley shrugged