May 6

22:35

3927

Miranda Castle, Sol System

Mercury opened her eyes. She checked the time on the UI of her visor. She'd taken a 2 hour dirt nap. Uranus was sitting just a little ways away from her. She was stroking the hair of that little girl in her lap.

"Did you sleep well?", whispered Haruka.

"Yeah", whispered back Mercury.

Haruka Tenoh, also known as Sailor Uranus while transformed, ever so gently moved the little girl in her lap onto the floor. She pointed towards a corner of the room then slinked away. Mercury followed her. Both trying their hardest not to make a sound. Mercury reached the corner first by purposely taking the biggest steps she could to accommodate for her ally's greater height. Only once they were absolutely sure that they were far out of earshot did they dare speak.

"So Ami, please remind me when breaking and entering became proper ways to visit your trusted allies."

"If I'd tried to contact you by other means then Michuru would have found out"

"Why is that a bad thing?"

"I wanted to keep things controlled. To ask for your advice before I let things move forwards. To stop things from getting out of hand"

"You can trust Michiru with that. She's amazing at keeping stuff under wraps. Way better then me."

"Mina has almost as many ears as you do"

"Why can't we trust Mina either? Ami you've changed. You sound like me 940 years ago"

"Things have changed in Crystal Tokyo. I think something's wrong with the silver crystal. I don't know what's causing it, I don't know how we can fix it, but I can't afford to loose Usagi. We can't afford to lose Usagi. The people can't afford to lose their Queen."

"Then you should have gotten everyone together so we can solve this. You don't have to do things alone. I expected this type of thinking from Pluto but never from you. We're your friends and we are here to help. Stay here tonight. We'll talk with every one else in the morning. Now if you'll excuse me I need to grab some blankets from the supply closet"

"I'll help you. Besides, I heard from a well connected friend that you forgot to order bedding in your supply shipments. A shuttle from your home world won't arrive in time and we both know you are too proud to use a portal for fear of any one putting two and two together. However if memory serves you did end up ordering allot of Pillows for some kind of battle royal. Therefore the logical solution to all this is for me to help you build a Pillow fort"

"Thanks Ami"

"A pillow fort without trenches, or buttresses, or Traps. I know how serious you take defenses."

"Yeah, yeah, just help me get this stuff together so we can go to bed."

Ami and Haruka stormed off to get Pillows and prepare a fort for their newest little apprentice. When the sun does come up over Tokyo they can gather the guardians. Until then all they can do is wait.

June 5th

12:15

2227

New Citadel, Krogan DMZ

The Council had assembled. The human Councilor Miranda Lawson, the Quarian Councilor Tali vas Normandy, the Krogan Councillor Urdnot Bakara, the Asari Councilor Tevos, the Turian councilor Sparatus, and finally the still green (not literally, more of a blueish color really) Salarian councilor Idras were all present.

Sparatus was the first to speak. He turned towards Miranda and asked her, "Are you sure these reports are accurate"

"To the best of my knowledge they are"

Next, Tali informed the council that, "This code is far to alien to be the work of Cerberus. It's so erratic. If I didn't know any better then I'd say its owner was angry."

"So", noted Bakara, " Our suspicions we correct. We are in fact dealing a new race. And we have no idea what they want or what they are capable of." Suddenly she laughed and gave a toothy grin, "For all we know they might want to eat us"

Idras edged away from her Krogan counterpart, "The reports say that the specimen was human. Or at similar to them in biological terms, it is most probable that what we killed wasn't part of this new species. An experiment on their part perhaps, or a poor attempt at infiltration"

"Or diplomacy", suggested Tevos, "this race could have different values then ours. We need more information"

"If this is their attempt at diplomacy then I think we'd better reconsider ours", Lawson stated, "In all my years at Cerberus I never saw- I couldn't believe . . . I still can't." Miranda bit back harsher words and pressed on. She looked at Tevos and told her, "If diplomacy fails then the system Alliance is going to war. With or without the Councils backing."

"Do you really think that wise?"

Tevos knew she had struck a nerve. Any hint of emotion vanished from the Human councilors face. She turned to Sparatus, "How many cannons does it take to make a world burn?"

"Its hard to say"

"And to destroy a well fortified system in one day?"

"Several dreadnaughts, or a small fleet"

"In that case I'd like to renegotiate a treaty. I understand it would be setting a precedent. But these are exceptional times. And if, a new agreement would make council space safer, would you be opposed"

"No"

The word dropped out of his mouth like lead. Out of the corner of his vision Sparatus could see Tevos. She wasn't looking at him. She was staring at Lawson.

"Are you suggesting that we renegotiate the treaty of the Treaty of Faraxen? That treaty was put in place for a reason. If we repeal it there could be an arms race!"

"And who", asked the Quarian Councilor Tali vas Normandy, " would take part in such an Arms race. We are all on the same side here"

"That could change", countered Tevos, " We need to consider the long term implications of such a decision."

Sparatus turned towards Tevos, " A treaty is only valid if all sides decide to honor it. We are facing an enemy that comes from outside of council space, an enemy that could be on par with the Rachni. Now is the time for decisive action. While we still have the element of surprise"

"Am I the only one who remembers the Relay 314 incident!", exploded Tevos.

Silence fell over the chamber.

Idras cleared her throat, "Perhaps we should take some time to consider all the options available to us."

"So be it", declared Sparatus .

June 5th

12:16

2227

Classified, Rio de Janeiro

"Now don't you worry", the man in dark armor announced, " The asymmetrical warfare sites might be in use, and our primary training center might be filled up, but all of you are still going to get the very best that the N7 program can offer"

"Will that be on the test, sir?"

N7 commander Richard, Hero of the reaper war, survivor of Biotically administered poison answered, "No".

The Blue student raised her hand again and then she lowered it. Their instructor wasn't even looking at them any more. Instead he was peeking into the overflowing auditorium through the still open door.

"And", Richard announced suddenly, "while I might not be an authorized instructor, should you survive, I'll still make operators out of every single last one of you"

He looked back to smile warmly at his "class".

The only other sentient left in the hallway gave him an awkward bow. "My names Ariska, sir"

" Well, Arisaka, What makes you think that you ought to receive Asymmetric warfare training?"

"Matriarch Lindanya says that I am not allowed to return to my station until I complete it sir!"

"In that case", replied Richard, "You've come to the right Destroyer"

Codex: Legacy of Doctor Surya

Doctor Surya was the foremost scientist among the colonists who would later form the auxiliary forces of crystal Tokyo. Her research dipped into a variety of topics but her most famous advances were related to the human body. Her ability to create the first being known as an advanced augment, a task where many of her colleagues had failed, cemented her place within history. And while no one is quite sure what exactly this first creation was it's rumored that Night flesh, combat forms, and Suit Mates are all descended from it.

Night Flesh: A type of artificial muscle like material that's embedded beneath the skin of Auxillary soldiers from the oldest recruiting sites. In its relaxed state it has 3/4th the density of ordinary human tissue. When it comes under extreme stress, from the impact of a projectile or heavy gravity, it becomes impossibly dense. Night flesh forms a symbiotic relationship with its host. Regimental Suit Mates can take control of soldiers Night Flesh should they go feral or lose consciousness.

combat form: Symbols of defiance in the face of certain death, combat forms are the deadliest constructs currently produced by Auxiliary. They are usually over 3 meters tall and their limbs are filled with Night Flesh. Each and every Combat form is equipped with its own Suit Mate to help its host retain their sanity. Doctor Surya constructed the first combat form out of her own grand daughter.

Suit Mate: In response to heavy material constraints and alternate demands the Artificial Intelligence of the edge evolved in a somewhat perplexing manner. Each and every Suite Mate has it's own personality, code of ethics, and memory. They have trouble with advanced calculations so they've been relegated to rudimentary support roles. Suit Mate's can be found at the Division level, Battalion or Brigade level, and aboard high value constructs. Suit Mates are an essential part of Auxiliary network security. Their code mutates as they age, and they think that every Auxiliary soldier under their command is their child. Suit Mates can feel emotional pain.