I would like to make an annoucement; There are those who complained about the ODP not destroying Sovereign or the Geth when they attack Eden Prime, you all are assuming that the Reapers in my story are the same in Mass Effect, you are wrong the Reapers are more powerful and stronger then what you think. And there will be an explanation on why they are later in my story, just wanted to clear the air for everyone.

December 1, 2683/2183 CE

UNSC Normandy

Comm. Room

After his talks with the ambassadors Shepard turns around and to his surprise Garrus was standing by the door. Oh, he didn't like that one bit. "Eavesdropping on my conversation?"

The guilty look on his face was betrayed by the calmness of his body language as Garrus just shrugged. "Not really, just wanted to know when we're going to reach Feros"

Shepard walked up to Garrus with a look of slight annoyance on his face. "It will take about two hours to get there, so I suggest you relax."

As Shepard walked away, Garrus grabbed him gently by the shoulder. "They're right you know; we shouldn't trust Dr. T'soni just yet."

Shepard stopped and looked back at Garrus. "I thought I told you I was in charge of this mission? And I thought you just wanted to know when we're going to Feros!"

Garrus just looked at Shepard—he was not backing down from the Human. "Yeah you did! But I want to be part of this mission too; you can't just keep ignoring my ideas Human!"

Shepard crosses his arms. "I trust Liara, and besides Equinox is watching her. How much more security are you asking for?"

Garrus walked past Shepard but not before he stopped behind him. "Like how he's also watching me?" Garrus then left through the science labs, while Shepard went through the armory—there he saw Wrex and the Jiralhanae talking to one another, Shepard decides to walk over there to see what's up. "What's going on over here?"

UNSC Normandy

Armory

Wrex just looked at Shepard. "Nothing Commander, just telling some of my adventures to your weapons officer." Wrex then walks over to the table looking at OSA weapons.

Shepard looks back at the Jiralhanae. "You mind telling me what those stories were about?"

The Jiralhanae stood up in front of Shepard; he was taller than Shepard about two inches taller "We were just comparing on who is the better killer, but it seems we are about even."

Shepard didn't no what to say about that. But then again, Krogan and Jiralhanae did have a better relationship with each other. "Just keep an eye on him; we don't know if he's in direct contact with the Shadow Broker."

The Jiralhanae nodded his head and went back to work. Shepard then headed over to Wrex for a little talk. "Wrex! How are you doing on the ship."

Wrex stood straight in front of Shepard. "You have a nice ship here Shepard; from what I hear many in Citadel space and the Terminus Coalition would kill to capture one of the OSA's ships."

Shepard knew all too well about that…that was why all ships were rigged to explode if the majority of the crew could not fight off boarders. "Yeah so I've heard. But I came over to talk about you. How did you get in touch with the Shadow Broker?"

"He contacted me through one of his agents to go after Saren; not surprising I did business with Saren once before."

Shepard was surprised about that—although his annoyance at that fact had pushed his surprise down. "Why didn't you tell me about that?"

"I didn't know who Saren was at the time until the Shadow Broker hired me…thought it wasn't important."

"I'd still like to know what it was."

His eyes were pulled back as Wrex thought back when he did the job. "This was awhile ago. A bunch of mercs were bragging about a job out near the edges of the Terminus systems. They said it paid well and that the boss was never around to ride them. They said he was looking for more men too. So I checked it out."

Shepard was curious—something just didn't jive with him. "I didn't know Saren was openly recruiting mercs."

"It wasn't that open, and he only showed his face once. We'd been raiding ships in the area for months and we took out this massive cargo freighter—our biggest haul yet. I was on board checking bodies for valuables looking for some extra credits; and that's when I saw him."

"What did Saren want with the ship?"

Wrex just shrugged. "I didn't know what he wanted. He was moving through the ship watching a couple of the mercs as they called him by name…strange thing was that he never spoke to them; in fact, never spoke to anyone. I had a really bad feeling about him; so I got the hell out—didn't even wait to get paid. A while later, I got news that every other merc on the job was dead."

Shepard was surprised. "Good instincts! Thanks for telling me that Wrex."

Wrex leaned back against the wall. "no problem Shepard."

Satisfied with the tale he heard, Shepard left the armory, and decided to head down to med bay to speak with Liara.

UNSC Normandy

Mess Hall

Shepard got out of the elevator after a ride down to the third floor. He made his way to the med bay, but stopped after seeing Tali sitting alone at the table. Shepard wanted to go see Liara, but felt that he may as well check up on Tali. Once he arrived, he went up took a seat next to her. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Tali was startled, but calmed down after seeing Shepard. "I-it's nothing Commander just concerned."

With curiosity muddling his mind, Shepard took a seat right across from Tali to hear what she had to say. "What's wrong?"

As she started settling herself down, Tali begans rubbing her hands together. Something was definitely making her nervous. "I'm worried about my people. Will the OSA Senate punish them for the Geth attack?"

Shepard now understood. "Tali listen to me, the Senate isn't like the Council, they won't punish your people for that."

A sigh of relief had left her heart as Tali started to calm down, if only by a margin. "I know; it's just that we have gotten back on our feet thanks to the OSA, and many of us are grateful, but there are those who are not."

Shepard was surprised by that. "Why?"

"It's about the OSA not sharing any of their technology with us. We're supposed to be allies when we joined the OSA, but you don't share any of your technology—not even artificial gravity, anti-gravity technology and the advanced medical technology."

His sigh of exasperation was heard as Shepard leaned back in his chair. "Well to be honest, your people have been using mass effect technology for a long time Tali; we thought it might be difficult to give your people technology that is widely different than what you're use to."

It was a bit of an excuse, but it satisfied Tali enough for her to nod her head. "I'm fine with what you have given us, but my father and some others like him still want to take back the home world one day, and they believe that your technology will help them. Speaking of the homeworld, do you think that the OSA will retaliate against the Geth? If they do my people may take advantage of that."

His shrug was sincere, and told Tali all she needed to know before Shepard could even say a word. "I don't know; that's not our mission—but I have a feeling that if they are, they may not attack the Perseus Veil directly…just some mining basses the Geth have under their control."

Upon hearing that, Tali didn't know what to feel. On the one hand, she was looking forward to seeing her people one step closer to reclaiming the homeworld, and on the other—she felt as if they were not ready yet. "Well I'm glad you won't take the fight to the homeworld; many would be afraid that you might accidentally destroy it, like how you did at Tortuga."

Shepard just grinned at that. "Yeah, I've heard that before, you don't have to worry—we won't be destroying any planets any time soon. I highly doubt it's even come to that yet."

The joy was clear on Tali's face. "I'm glad we had this talk Shepard. I should get back to the engine room, to make sure everything's alright." Tali stood up and walked away. Shepard did the same and headed to med-bay.

UNSC Normandy

Med-Bay

Shepard walked into the med-bay; there he saw Chakwas at her desk typing up medical reports. He made his way to the back of the med-bay where they keep reserves of medical supplies. He walks in and sees Liara typing on a holographic keyboard she brought with her. Liara notice Shepard walking in and stood up to greet him "Hello Shepard, I have a feeling you wish to speak to me."

Shepard just stood there and looked at Liara for a moment. "Just wanted to see how you're doing."

"I am feeling fine Commander, I was impressed on your Chief Medical Officer's knowledge of Asari physiology."

Shepard just chuckled lightly. "You're in good hands Liara, but I came down here to ask you something. Do you know why Benezia joined Saren?"

Oh here it comes…Liara knew that this was coming and it showed on her face. "I don't understand it. She was always outspoken about the need for the Asari to become more involved in shaping galactic events. At least until the OSA showed up."

Benezia was doing this for her people? Now Shepard was surprised. "Why is that?"

Liara just looks down at her feet. "The Asari were the most advanced and powerful race in the galaxy, and so we were looked up to by the many different races in Citadel space; until the OSA showed up and proved us wrong. Many of the matriarchs, including my mother, could not believe that a group of different races could be more advanced than them; but upon the appearance of your people, many in Citadel space have stopped looking for guidance in the Asari and the Citadel Council and started looking towards the OSA for the future."

Shepard now understood…she felt that the Asari were being threatened by the appearance of the OSA. "So you think your mother joined Saren to destroy the OSA?"

The look she had when facing Shepard told him that Liara was surprised and scared at the same time—it's not every day one heard that their parents were looking to commit genocide. "By Athame, I hope not! If she did, then it would put the entire Asari race in danger along with the races of the OSA. I don't know Shepard this is all too confusing."

As he watched her turn away from him, Shepard saw tears beginning to form in Liara's eyes—there was no way anybody could fake this amount of sadness. "This hurts you, doesn't it?"

Liara stared at Shepard, the tears nearing the breaking point. "None of this makes any sense to me…I have not spoken to Benezia in many years, but I know her! And this is not like her…something must have changed."

With a sigh, Shepard understood Liara's pain, and decided to call it a day. "Thanks for sharing this with me Liara." Once he stood up, he gently pat Liara on the back to comfort her, and walked out of the room. As he left the med-bay he saw Ash and Kaidan talking, Shepard decided to go over there to see what was up.

UNSC Normandy

Mess Hall

As Shepard walked up to his soldiers, they both saluted him. "At ease, what's going on over here?"

Ash was the first to answer. "Just telling LT over here about how our Commander may have an interest for the doctor."

Shepard was confused…until realization crossed his features. "You mean Liara?"

Kaidan was quick to speak this time. "Don't mind Williams, sure she just thinks that you might be, because romantic relations between crewmembers are taboo—you know, regulations and all."

Ah, so that's the heart of the matter! Shepard calmed himself—no point in killing your own teammates after all, now is there? "Well I don't have feelings for Liara, but I will be keeping an eye on her just in case she tries anything."

The scandalous grin on Williams' face told Shepard that she was up to something…and as he watched her open her mouth, his apprehension had increased tenfold. "By 'keeping an eye on her' do you mean Equinox to watch her every move—including in the shower?"

He was quick to slam his palm into his forehead at the insinuation—but Shepard could not help but want to strangle the woman for such an accusation. "Williams where the hell did you come up with that kind of idea?"

The chuckle coming out of Williams was enough to tell him that there was more. "Well that's what someone tried to do once with an AI—and that was just trying a woman's privacy Commander."

"Noted Gunnery Chief! Excuse me, but I'm needed up stairs." Shepard walks away from both of them and heads to the elevator up to CIC…trying not to run away from the embarrassment caused by the smutty mind of one Gunnery Chief Williams.

UNSC Normandy

CIC

Shepard walks out of the elevator and heads up to the galaxy map "Joker how long till we reach Feros?"

Joker opened up the intercom near the CIC. "We're almost there Commander, another jump through a Relay and will be in the Attican Beta Cluster soon."

Shepard was happy about this! Soon they would be one step closer to finding Saren.

UNSC Space

Zeta Dorandus system

Onyx Orbit

The Titan-class Dreadnought was being finalized and ready to move out from the docks. It was the most powerful dreadnought in the OSA, and the person to pilot it is none other than the grandson of the great Admiral Preston Cole. Alexander Cole was is standing in front of a window on the space station taking in the site of the dreadnought; he was impressed with how it turned out. As he continued to watch the dreadnought Miranda Keyes, came up right next to him. Cole saluted the Admiral and she saluted right back to the Captain. "Captain Cole! How do you feel about being in command of one of our most powerful dreadnought in the OSA?"

Cole admired Admiral Keyes for her bravery. She was said to have been one of the people to fight alongside the legendary Master Chief Petty Officer Sierra-117 himself. "Very honored ma'am, can't wait to see what it's capable of."

Miranda just smiles at the Captain's excitement and turned to look at the "Albion".

OSA Titan-Class Dreadnought Albion

Bridge

The bridge of the Albion was a mixture of Human and Sangheili—with a few Jiralhanae and other races in the mix. Captain Cole came onto the bridge and sat down at his chair, he looking at everyone on the bridge—he was amazed at how many different species working together. As he admired the cooperation a Sanghili officer reported to him. "Captain Cole all systems are checked and ready, the crew are all at their stations, all weapons have been loaded and ready, slipspace drive ready, we are ready to leave this system."

Captain Cole turned on the intercom for the whole ship. "Attention crew! We are about to take the Albion to the Shanxi system, and from there we will use the Theta Relay to take us to the Armstrong Nebula. According to Intel, the Geth are amassing in the Nebula to make a push into OSA colonies, but we are going to stop them. That is our mission—failure is not an option. Captain Cole, over and out!" As he cut the intercom, he turned his attention to the navigator, who was also a Sangheili—a female Sangheili. "Take us to the Theta Relay."

"Aye, aye captain!" Once she plotted the coordinates, the pilots began to move the Albion. Outside, the Albion was being watched by everyone who helped build it…it made one pass around the planet and opened up a slipspace portal…its mission was clear…it would not fail!

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Citadel Tower

Council Chambers

The Citadel Council was discussing the debacle at the Prothean ruins; Sparatus was most displeased at this—and he made his anger clear. "The OSA should pay for the damages done to the ruins, they must be held accountable for it."

Tevos just looked a Sparatus for a second—the look in her eyes said 'you are an idiot'. "If you want them to pay so badly, then make them…but don't drag the rest of us down with you."

Sparatus just snarled at the Asari councilor. "Tevos, you and Valern are weak! The Turians will never back down from the OSA, we need to stand up against them."

She was losing her patience now…Tevos didn't like what Sparatus was saying and it showed on her face with the barely-veiled rage in her eyes. "We can't go up against them; we don't have the technology to fight them! You already know what happened to Tortuga and the Terminus systems, and you still want to provoke the sleeping giant as it were!"

Sparatus could not forget that day; the Turian Hierarchy wanted to force the OSA into giving them that weapon, but couldn't risk it fearing that they may use it on them. "So what do we do; let them go about destroying anything they like?"

Tevos just shook her head and lifted her hand up to her head to massage the migraine that was starting to develop. "We need access to Forerunner technologies like we agreed; it's frustrating enough that we lost the first one we found only to lose it."

Sparatus remembered that and had his suspicions on what happened. "I still think the OSA had something to do with it."

She was definitely getting tired of this—too old and tired! Tevos already heard this before. "Sparatus you cannot possibly think they had something to do it; your conspiracy theories are absurd."

It was here that Valern then made his own opinion. "Sparatus' theory may not be so absurd Tevos…" The two councilors looked at Valern. "Salarian STG did an investigation into the unexplained explosion, but nothing could be recovered from the outpost—instead they found a substance from the explosion that may have been from a bomb."

Tevos and Sparatus were shocked by this. Tevos was the first to speak, the fury in her eyes returning to life with a vengeance. "Why didn't you tell us this before?"

Valern turns his body to face them. "Because we couldn't point the evidence to the OSA, the bomb could have been from anything or anyone."

As all three Councilors took in this new information, a Salarian STG walked in on them and handed them an OSD. On it contained information from the expedition team's discovery of another Forerunner outpost and silently asked the Councilors for permission to begin excavating the site. The Councilors were very happy to get a second chance at unlocking Forerunner technologies, but also played smart about it; they decided to send a flotilla of mixed Council ships to guard the planet and to make sure no one will blow up the outpost.

Sub-Sector 37

Uncharted Moon

The expedition fleet was in orbit of the moon where the Forerunner out post was located. The expedition was a mix of Asari and Salarian scientists eager to get their hands on Forerunner tech. The head of the expedition was an Asari named Elaina, who wanted to get started right away "Alright people this is our chance to study the Forerunners; so let's get started!"

The fleet in orbit launched a dozen shuttles heading to the outpost; in the shuttles, a Salarian was talking about how close they were to OSA space. "I am only saying if the OSA finds us, what do we tell them?" The Asari who was in charge just looks at him with defiant eyes. "That this area of space is now the property of the citadel attacking would mean an act of war; and I refuse to allow the OSA to take this from us."

The shuttles then touched down on the moon right outside of the outpost. The scientists then embarked off of the shuttles—all thirty-five of them; a Salarian was surprised when he checked his omni-tool for breathable atmosphere, the group removed their helmets and took in the air. After a few minutes they began heading to the outpost.

Forerunner Outpost

Once the scientists found a way inside the Forerunner complex, they began scanning everything. When Elaina and the Salarian scientists came in a room from the rest of the group they found a holographic console, but before they reached it Elaina just remarked about the Forerunners. "This complex is incredible, the metal alone is stronger than what the mass relays are made of, who knows what we could learn from this place." The Salarian could only agree, as he went up to the console, but just as soon as he touched it, the console turned red signifying of access denied on the screen. He began typing in his omni-tool to get a connection, but failed. Elaina was just about to suggest cannibalizing it to learn about their hardware until over the radio the scientist began alerting about some kind of machines attacking them. "Elaina we are under attack from what I believe it is defensive system left behind by the Forerunners! They are slaughtering us!"

Elaina connected to her team, but was cut off. She turn to the Salarian. "Come on! We need to help them." But just as they were about to leave, a monitor appeared right in front of them—its eye was glowing red. The two scientists were surprised, and so they asked who it was or what it was. The monitor then spoke. "I am 235 Sincere Matrix and you are trespassing on my creators Line Installation 1-5."

Elaina was surprised to be dealing with an AI but went along with it. "We did not mean to intrude, we were curious about the Forerunners and wanted to know more about them."

Matrix was curious, but also suspicious. "Such a primitive race such as yourselves would be curious about my creators, but you won't find anything from this place for not just anyone or thing can activate the systems in this installation, but requires a Forerunner or a Reclaimer and seeing as you are neither you must leave or risk being killed."

Elaina was not surprised; AI would always kill organics, but believe this one would be reasonable. "We need the technologies of the Forerunners to help fight against the OSA."

Matrix just floated there looking at the two. "What is the OSA? I have no information about it."

Elaina began with everything she knew. "The OSA is a group of tyrants who think they can push us around because they have superior technology, technology they copied from the Forerunners your creators."

Matrix then became very curious "Who is part of this OSA?"

"Well there's the San'shyumm, the Sangheili, and the Humans."

Matrix was very excited to hear that "Ah! Recalimers! How wonderful it is to hear it, but if they are your enemies then that makes you an enemy of mine." Matrix then shot out a red beam at the two scientists!

Code-OSA Titan-class ships

TITAN-The Titan-class ship is the newest dreadnoughts in the OSA fleet. They are the result of collaboration between Human, Sangheili, and Jiralhanae shipwrights and engineers—it incorporates the latest technologies that were developed by the OSA and acquired from Forerunner installations. The size of the dreadnought is 7.5 KM long. The material used on it is made of a mixture of the new Titanium-D armor and Forerunner alloys. The dreadnought can hold up to a number of 27,500 people, majority of this number being the soldiers that come aboard.

Armaments-The Titan is equipped with different types of weapons from all three races who helped built it. The dreadnought is equipped with: 2 super Macs and 3 standard Macs; it is equipped with 2000 Lancer pods (each pod contains 55 Lancer missiles); It is also has 3 dozen Ares-nuclear missiles, and possess one Nova bomb. The dreadnought is surrounded by 185 mm turrets. It also possesses other energy-based weapons such as: The energy projector used to glass planets; plasma torpedoes; the newly-developed and experimental Plasma Incendiary Needler (PaIN) turrets; and pulse lasers.

Defenses-The dreadnought has a number of defenses, it possess the newest energy shields from the Sangheili, it has two of the most advanced Artificial Intelligences in the OSA; one being Human and the other being Sangheili. The dreadnought also possess, for the first time ever in the OSA a compliment of Forerunner sentinels ready to be released from a chamber inside the dreadnought, that are controlled by dumb AI that are programmed to target only what the weapons officer designates as an enemy as point defense units.

Engines-The Titan possess the newest generation Slipspace drive along with two big repulsor engines for thrust. It also has four maneuvering thrusters. The dreadnought is powered by five plasma-fusion hybrid reactor cores along with three auxiliary mass-effect reactors.