September 9th

23:48

2227

Alliance HQ. Earth.

"How many made it out?"

"Not enough Hackett, not enough"

Admiral Hackett and Rear admiral Alenko hung their heads in silence. Without warning Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard, the mother of commander Shepard, came in and put an arm around both of them. No one spoke. What was there left to say?

A marine came into the room and shot to attention upon seeing the three most important living members of the Alliance military gathered together in one room. They stayed at attention until Hannah finally let go of her comrades.

"You came to deliver a message"

"Yes Mam, from Primarch Victus"

"Why isn't this message being delivered to Councilor Lawson?"

"She's missing mam"

"Her too", muttered Hannah.

Hackett turned to face Alenko.

"I want you to tell me exactly what happened"

"Well, I was visiting the N7 ceremony when everything went dark. Half the personnel were lost once the life support systems cut out. Those of us that survived were picked off one by one. The only reason why I made it out is because an 19 year old threw themselves onto whatever was after us. They didn't scream or cry out for help. She died quietly."

"Did you catch a good look at what this thing looked like?"

"No."

Hackett turned towards Shepard.

"Sound familiar?"

" Too damn familiar."

Now Hackett turned back towards the marine.

"That message, what is it?"

"Sir, the Primarch's been caught in an ambush while patrolling Elcor space. His forces are pinned down and he is requesting immediate assistance. "

"I want a message sent back at once. Let the Turians know that the fifth fleet will be there within 4 hours"

"Yes sir"

"That will be all"

The Marine Saluted them and departed with all due haste.

Shepard, Alenko, and Hackett exchanged looks.

"Any one else feel over dressed for the apocalypse?", asked Alenko.

"I'm never over dressed", responded Shepard, "just over ranked. What I wouldn't give to be a captain again"

"Sorry about that Shepard", apologized Hackett as he got up to leave.

"God Speed Admiral", helpfully added Alenko.

"Come back to us you son of bitch. You still owe me a drink"

" After I get back I'll buy a round of drinks for the whole damn fleet"

"I'll hold you to that Admiral"

Hackett left the room.

Alenko turned towards Shepard.

"Are you two?"

"No"

"Were you?"

"Yes"

"Is Shepard?"

"Classified"

"If that information leaves this room . . ."

"How do you feel about pliers?"

"They have their uses"

"Yes, yes they do"

Shepard glanced at Alenko's trousers.

"And, while we are on the subject, have you ever considered what I can do with a toothbrush, some razor wire, and two gallons of undiluted bleach?"

"No . . ."

"Good. Now I like you Kaiden, I really do. But if you do anything that hurts my daughter again I will rip off your balls and feet your manhood to a pack of hungry Varren."

"Is that classified?"

"No, its public knowledge"

Shepard leaned over to whisper into Alenko's ear, "But that doesn't mean they'll ever find the bodies"

Hannah got up and left. In her wake she left Admiral Alenko. The admiral was currently clutching his balls protectively while contemplating many vivid possibilities.

September 10th

23: 58

2227

Oltan's Shadow, Phontes System

Mercury pulled off her mask. Everything hurt. The last 36 hours had been murder. She didn't even bother to try and remove the rest of her infiltration suit. Too much blood. It was slick and warm. Elcor had such big hearts and so many veins. It made her feel a little sick.

It wasn't getting any easier. Nonetheless she contended herself with the fact that the auxiliary blade she'd borrowed was tried and true. Her blue eyes looked up and down the blade. It was such a shame one of the human soldiers from earlier had thrown her self onto this knife. Every other kill Ami delivered had been clean. None of them struggled like she did. Ami could still remember her expression as the light faded from her eyes. Desperation, her actions were born out of desperation.

Ami could relate to that.

A fuse blew out down the hallway. Ami looked up. She wasn't dead yet. With a groan the blue haired soldier made her way forward. This ship was destroyed. The crew was eliminated.

She barely had enough strength left to stand. Ami dropped her knife. She needed that good hand to start the linking sequence. Her hand fidgeted as she put in the coordinates. With the flip of a switch, a flash of light, and several nuclear reactors worth of energy Ami made her way home.

The 12th site had been secured. Seven survivors, three witnesses, and 17 injuries sustained. If Ami weren't so close to screaming then maybe she'd be laughing. Never in her darkest dreams could she imagine such efficiency. This was exactly the result she needed. So why did she feel like she'd lost? Was that too a symptom of desperation or was she still caught in those soldiers eyes?

Ami didn't have an answer to that. And that terrified her.

September 12th

07:43

2227

Tuchanka, Krogan DMZ

Rei couldn't believe she let Mina talk her into this. For reasons she didn't want to get into she was currently standing in what looked suspiciously like a gladiator pit. Mina was across from her with metal chain. Rei had a spear.

'It'll be fun she said', commented Rei's inner narrator while she closed in for a spear thrust.

'Great way to connect with the local culture she said', rang out the unheard voice while Mina entangled half Rei's body in chains.

"And after all", she muttered aloud while Mina ensnared her, "it won't be to the death"

She fell face forward but her adversary caught her before she could kiss the earth. Mina smiled playfully while she held Rei up with one hand and grasped her spear firmly with the other. Mina tugged hard and the wood came free of Rei's grasp.

"You won't be needing that anymore"

"Was that really necessary?"

"Well I wouldn't want to be felled by any underhanded blows. Even when you're wrapped up like that you still have quite a range of movement"

Rei looked away, "This is embarrassing"

Mina leaned in closer, "and I thought I was a sore loser"

The blonde haired scout let her raven-haired partner down gently. Then she turned to face the cheering crowd. Mina loved it. She'd already started banging her chest and screaming out challenges. When no one answered her calls she started sprinting around the arena riling up the crowd. The cheers reached an ear splitting crescendo that hit poor Rei like a shot of Ryncol.

"Champion, I accept your challenge!"

The Crowd went silent. Urdnot Wrex had entered the Arena.

"Come on and cheer", called out the King, "we're about to find out who the toughest fighter on this rock is"

Rei started writhing. The crowd's roars made her ears bleed. She still couldn't use her hands to muffle the noise while she was tied up like this. All she could do was close her eyes and hope this was over quickly.

"To the Death?", Screamed Wrex

"Maybe later", screamed back Mina, "kind of got a good thing going here"

"Ah", roared back Wrex, "same here. We'll battle to first blood then. Ears don't count"

Mina nodded back. She picked up Rei's spear and charged Wrex. He hit her with a biotic throw that sent her flying into the opposite side of the Arena. The wall caught her and something warm bubbled up in her throat. She swallowed it before charging again.

This time the battle tested Krogan activated their barrier, which Mina failed to notice until he had already detonated it. She was left dangling in the air. Wrex allowed her to drop to the floor (mostly) unharmed.

Mina got up and charged him again. Wrex caught her with his fist this time. Mina somersaulted backwards from the force of the blow and tried her hardest to make sure her lips were closed tight. She swallowed again.

Wrex was walking towards her. Mina threw her spear to the side and charged him again. This time the king met her head on with a head butt. Mina stumbled backwards. She wasn't bleeding but her vision was fuzzy.

"I am Sailor Z. In the name of flap jacks I'll defeat you. Cause I'm hungry!"

Mina charged again. Wrex didn't try to stop her. She hit into his chest and fell back wards. Wrex picked Mina off the floor. He helped her find some semblance of balance while she swung wildly.

"You'll defeat me in the name of what?"

"Venus hug me Chains!"

Mina swung her hand through the air. Wrex shook his head slowly.

" This fight is a joke. To think I believed you could-"

In a blur of speed Mina slid between his guard. She delivered an uppercut that lifted Wrex off his feet. She followed that up with a flurry of punches so quick that her hands blurred together. By the time Wrex gathered his wits Venus was already hammering his chest piece to scraps. Before he could move she'd grabbed a hold of his collar. Mina kept one hand there, one hand on his chest piece and screamed. Mina lifted up the king into the air and brought him onto her knee.

The stadium fell silent.

"Congratulations", murmured Venus as blood leaked from her mouth, "You won".

September 10th

18:54

2227

Dekuuna, Phontes System

Makoto looked back and forth across the sea of wreckage. In the distance she could see movement. She moved towards it with the calculated steps of a heavy worlder. This planet was closer to Surge IV then Jupiter. Makoto had a feeling that under different circumstances she would have enjoyed visiting this world.

Acrid smoke filled her lungs. She walked around the burning remains of Turians. Most of them were pilots. A few soldiers were scattered here or there. So many of them had died of stab wounds. Did they kill themselves?

Makoto didn't know. She'd reached the only living thing in this field of decay. A young soldier. Must have been an auxiliary from one of the impoverished worlds. Her boots were much too big and her collar bones stuck out so clearly now that her uniform was torn. Her brown hair was messy. Bits of red were splattered here or there and her helmet was nowhere to be seen. The soldier peered up at Makoto with awe.

The soldiers left arm was trapped beneath some rubble. Those delicate fingers of hers were still wrapped around a worn service revolver. Her other arm lay at her side, useless, and blood was dribbling down her right wrist. The soldier struggled to move her head. Her torso twisted when she tried to get up. Her body went limp. She gasped in pain. Her eyes, brilliant forest green, stayed open.

"You can't save them"

The voice came from behind Makoto. Pluto was here.

"Was this meant to happen?"

"It's the result of the path that was chosen."

Makoto knelt down to close the eyes of this Unknown Soldier. She was still warm.

"Were there any survivors?"

"I think you already know the answer."

Makoto got up and looked off into the distance. Smoke trailed its way into the sky through out the whole vast expanse. She looked for movement and found none. With one arm she pulled the soldier beneath her from the wreckage. Then she threw them over her shoulder and walked on.

"Where are you going?"

"To bring my soldiers back home"

"You do realize that you're walking into hell"

Makoto looked back and smiled.

"No, I'm just waking up from this dream"

Rain poured down and swallowed up the flames. Night fell like a veil across the battlefield. But Makoto could still make out their faces. Her soldiers had such miraculous eyes. She'd have to tell the rest of the Scouts about them. Mina would feel jealous. But Mina had Rei and Makoto had three more fields to clear.

Makoto let go of her smile. She woke up in the rain.