Those who read the first chapter of Ilos I put up, this is a revised version, so I hope you enjoy this one.

December 7, 2683/2183 CE

En-Route to Ilos

UNSC Normandy

Captain's Cabin

Shepard was sitting at his desk wondering if he was going to be able to make it in time to stop Saren from releasing the Reapers or if he was going to lose like the Protheans. His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened in his room. He turned around, and to his surprise, it was Ashley walking in.

When Ash walked in, she could not hold her feelings inside any longer "Skipper?"

Shepard looked at Ash for a second before responding. "Shouldn't you get ready for the battle Williams?"

Ashley nodded her head. "I would, but I am worried we will fail the mission Shepard. Do you think we can win this and stop the Reapers?"

Shepard gave her a confident look. "We wouldn't have been assigned to this ship if we can't. We'll get it done."

With a sigh of reassurance, Ash nodded her head. "We'll get home again, Shepard. I believe you'll lead us through this. Oh Captain. My Captain."

Shepard then decided go for a direct move. "It occurred to me that this might be our last night alive. Got any plans?"

Ash immediately saw his move and called it out. "Trying a frontal assault? All that training, you'd think they teach you the best approach is indirect. To draw the enemy out of their fixed defenses. There are regs against this, you know. You ready to deal with the consequences?" Ashley then brought out some personal memories. "I've spent my whole life fighting to get what I want. To get it done, I had to bury a lot of things. During that whole time, not even once did I feel like I was worth what I was fighting for." She walked up closer to Shepard. "You make me feel good enough."

It took all he had to be patient, but Shepard looked into her eyes with passion. "bunk here tonight, Ash. With me."

She smiled. "Bold words, Shepard. I like bold."

Shepard just grinned at that. "Shut up and get over here."

Ash then teased him. "Make me."

Both Shepard and Ash spent the night together in the Captain's Cabin.

Mu Relay

1 hour later

UNSC Normandy

Bridge

Shepard walked on the bridge when Joker called him on the intercom. They were approaching the Mu Relay, but to their surprise were a group of TC ships were waiting around the Relay.

Joker immediately commented on it. "I don't think they're here to greet us Commander. What do you think Shepard?"

Shepard looked at the ships around the Mu Relay and then at Equinox. "Have they done anything since our arrival?"

Equinox turned to Shepard. "None whatsoever, but I belie-" Equinox stopped what he was saying for a second and looked at Shepard and Joker. "We are to proceed to the Relay; the ships have just given us the go ahead."

Shepard nodded his head and told Joker to proceed. The Normandy soared through space and as it got close to the Mu Relay, the Relay shot out a blue light and sent the Normandy instantaneously across space."

Pangaea Expanse

Refuge System

The Normandy dropped out of FTL and headed straight to Ilos, but as soon as they got close Equinox appeared "Commander we've got company."

Shepard could see it through the window. A fleet of Geth ships, surrounding Ilos.

"Have their sensors picked us up yet?" asked Liara

Joker shook his head. "Stealth systems are engaged; unless we get close enough for a visual, they won't have any idea we're here."

Kaidan then ask the question that was on everyone's minds. "Where is Rear Admiral Mikhailovich and the fleet?"

Shepard just grinned at that. "They're about to make an appearance right about now."

As if on cue, fifteen slipspace portals opened up and out came the 63rd scout flotilla under the command of Rear Admiral Mikhailovich. The Flotilla was made up of eight UNSC frigates, four UNSC Destroyers, two cruisers, and one heavy cruiser. After they came out of Slipspace, the 63rd flotilla fired their MAC cannons and unleashed lancer missile pods at the Geth fleet. The Geth were caught off guard and took most of the damage, but the Geth fleet soon countered by unleashing a wave of Disruptor torpedoes at the 63rd. Unknown to the Geth, this was but a diversion for the 26th flotilla to come in behind them and begin dropping down troop transports and phantoms for their ground forces.

UNSC Samson-Class Heavy Cruiser "Date Masamune"

Bridge

Onboard the bridge of the "Date Masamune", Mikhailovich was shouting out orders to his crew as the battle was getting well under way. One of the sensors operators called out to the Admiral "Sir! We have the entire Geth fleet focusing on us, leaving Ilos from their protection."

Mikhailovich understood where the operator was coming from "send the signal to Fleet Master Luro 'Taralumee, he has a go."

The operator nods his head and sends the signal.

Ilos Orbit

Slipspace portals opened up in orbit of Ilos and out came the 26th scout flotilla. When the Flotilla came out of Slipspace they immediately launched troop transporters, phantoms, and bombers to areas with high concentrations of Geth forces. After they sent down all the people they were going to send, 'Taralumee quickly took his fleet and joined Mikhailovich in fighting the Geth in space.

UNSC Normandy

Bridge

Everyone on the Normandy saw the battle taking place and Shepard needed to get people back on track instead of gazing at how awesome the Geth were losing. Shepard then looked at Equinox "Where's Saren at?"

Equinox began searching the planet. "I have detected one Turian life sign on our sensors on the planet at these coordinates. But the area is too small for the Cougar to land at and I cannot recommend landing the Normandy at this time Commander."

Shepard turned to Joker. "Can you drop the Cougar in that area?"

Joker looked at Shepard with a smile as he knew what the commander was thinking. "I can do it."

Shepard turned to his squad. "Everybody get ready, I want Toha, Garrus, Wrex, and Liara to come with me. Gear up and head down to the Cougar. Joker - drop us right on top of that bastard!"

Everyone acknowledged the Commanders orders and went straight to work.

Ilos

Ground side

Bunker Entrance

Saren was walking along with some Geth bodyguards. They were preparing to walk inside the bunker and fast. He was getting reports in space and on the ground of the OSA attacking; he never would have thought that they would be able to get here without dealing with the TC. He was mistaken, and now he had to speed things up! But just as he was about to walk in, he heard a noise coming from above. He turned around and looked up and to his surprise, he saw the Normandy heading his way. He turned back to his Geth and told them, "You two, keep moving. Inside. Now!" The Geth did as they were told and walked in.

The Normandy was gliding through the sky at a steep angle and it looked like it was about to crash, the cargo bay doors opened and out came the Cougar landing in the exact same spot as Saren. Once the Cougar came to a stop right in front of the bunker doors, Shepard and gang got out and stacked up at both sides of the door to the bunker.

Liara looked at the door. "We have to get inside this bunker before Saren finds the Conduit!"

Wrex looked at the door himself. "I hate to admit it, but there is no way we're getting past this door with brute force."

"Saren found some way to open it," said Garrus, "there must be some kind of security override somewhere in this complex."

Liara looked at Shepard. "We'll have to find some way to get it up and running again."

Shepard nodded his head. "Alright people let's get moving." As Shepard was leading the group to the ruins, Geth troopers came out of nowhere and were about to open fire at Shepard and his squad until a plasma sniper rifle shot hit the Geth at the head. Shepard and squad looks around to see who took the shot. Shepard then spotted a Kig-yar on a roof top waving his arm at them, Shepard waved back to thank him and moved on.

When they got out from the bunker entrance they immediately came across more Geth and two Armatures, but thanks to the Kig-yar sniper, he signaled all forces to converge on his location. A phantom then appeared, and opened fire at the Geth along with troop transporters. The transports unloaded a whole battle group of the OSA's finest soldiers. There were Sangheili Zealots, Ultras, Rangers, and Majors led the attack alongside Jiralhanae Chieftains, Stalkers, Captains, Majors, and Minors and a few jumper packs flying around; Yanme'e Ultras, Majors, and Minors harassed the enemy in the skies with the Jump-Pack Jiralhanae and Sangheili Rangers; Three Gargantuan Hunters from Heavy-Gravity worlds accompanied six Mgalekgolo Scarabs and 50 Hunters came striding into the battle; Unggoy Ultras, Heavies, and Minors by the thousands to overwhelm the Geth forces; and Kig-yar Champions, Commandoes, Rangers, and Snipers from both the Jackal and Skirmisher sub species attacked with speed and stealth as they made Saren's forces look foolish (if it was possible for Geth to look foolish). Shepard then signaled his squad to move forward while the whole battalion took care of the Geth.

The Zealots moved in with plasma swords and slicing the Geth piece by piece. Jiralhanae Chieftains swung their gravity hammers knocking Geth troopers across the battle. Yanme'e Ultras provided air support by picking the Geth off behind cover with their plasma weapons. Jackal snipers watched everyone's backs from Geth Hoppers while Skirmishers made short work of Geth Troopers with their superior speed. It wasn't long before the Geth called in reinforcements and from the sky ten Geth Colossus dropped down and began firing at the OSA forces, for a second it looked like the Geth were pushing them back, but that wasn't until the three Scarabs smashed the ten Colossus to scrap metal.

Ilos

Courtyard

Shepard and squad moved across the ruins and came upon three Skirmisher Commandoes. Shepard kneeled down near a wall and looked at one of them "What's the situation?"

A Commando turned his feathered head and looked at Shepard. "There are a group of Geth troopers and one Juggernaut. We are planning an attack."

Shepard looked up in the sky and grinned. "I don't think that's necessary."

The Commando had a confused look on his face until he saw what was falling out of the sky. It was four Spartans clad in black armor, they landed right on top of the group of Geth. The Juggernaut charged right at them but was immediately taken down by the Spartans with ease.

Shepard and squad walked up to the Spartans, and exchanged salutes. "Commander Shepard, Commanding Officer of the Normandy. Thanks for taking care of the Geth."

One of the Spartans walked up to Shepard. "Black One of Spartan Team Black. It wasn't a problem sir, but we have orders to help clear this area of Geth. I'm only sorry that we can't follow you."

Shepard understood and took his squad the rest of the way. They made their way through some pillars where Geth Hoppers were jumping around wrecking havoc for them, but in the end the Geth Hoppers fell like all the rest. Shepard and squad then made their way into an elevator.

Ilos

Security Station

During the elevator ride down Garrus noted that the lights were still on. "This place still has power. It must be running off its own generator."

Wrex then noted something else. "This must be the command center for the entire complex. Saren's troops must have sealed the doors from here after he went inside."

Toha made his own statement. "We will have to figure out how to disengage the security lockdown if we ever want to get inside that bunker."

Shepard nodded his head in understanding. When the elevator came to a stop, the squad got out of the elevator and made a right turn, but to his surprise there was a Jiralhanae wearing red power armor, he was taking cover behind a boulder from Geth fire and what looked like siege pulse cannons fire. Shepard immediately ran up to his position and took cover. The Jiralhanae did not hesitate to take notice of the Commander. "Commander Shepard! I am Lanius Huructus, I am in charge of the Jiralhanae offensive on the ground."

Commander nodded his head. "Tell me Huructus what's going on here?"

Huructus takes a look out from his cover and looks back at the Commander "We believe this is the place Saren used to lock the bunker he went into, but the Geth have dug in and their defenses are strong."

Shepard didn't like the sound of that. "So what's the plan?"

Huructus grinned, showing many sharp teeth. "Dadab and his group should already be taking care of it."

Shepard looked confused. "Who the hell is Dadab?"

Huructus explains "Dadab is an Unggoy Ultra, he leads a GOBLIN unit that specializes in demolitions."

Shepard was really surprised by that and took a look at what the little Unggoy's were up against. There were A LOT of Geth Juggernauts, Destroyers, Troopers, Rocket Troopers, Shock Troopers, Geth Primes, and four Geth Armatures. Shepard could not believe a group of pint size Unggoy could handle all this, but unknown to anyone were the pint size Unggoy's that were in active camouflage were planting small explosives on every Geth that Shepard saw. When all the Unggoy finished they went back to where Huructus and Shepard was, they de-cloaked and told them to take cover. After five seconds, there was a massive explosions coming from the other side of the boulder and every Geth construct was reduced to scrap metal afterwards.

Shepard walked out from behind the boulder and was impressed with the Unggoy, but not as impressed as Garrus, Liara, and especially Wrex. Wrex himself could not believe a group of tiny Unggoy did all this damage—showing more spine than the Volus. Shepard then walked up the stairs that lead to the control panels; he was about to press some buttons until Huructus stopped him and let a Huragok that was with him do the work. It was a few seconds until the Huragok signaled to them that it was able to unlock the bunker doors.

Garrus then tried to urge everyone to get moving. "Come on. Saren already has a head start. We have to go find him before he reaches the Conduit."

Toha, the strategic genius as he was, disagreed. "Assuming of course he hasn't already found it. If he has, then we are just walking right into a trap."

Garrus then replied back. "That's a chance we'll have to take."

But just as everyone was ready to leave an image appeared over the console. Liara was the first to notice "Hold on...something is happening."

The hologram image then spoke "-too late. [static]-unable to... [static] ...invading fleets... [static]-no escape... [static]..."

Garrus could only speculate what the image was trying to say. "Sounds like some kind of message. But I don't recognize the language."

Liara as the archeologist she was made a scientific guess. "It is probably in Prothean. This recording must be 50,000 years old. No wonder we cannot understand it."

Shepard understood what the message said to his surprise. He translated to the others. "The message is all broken up, but I recognize a few words. It's a warning against the Reaper invasion."

Liara was impressed and completely understood how the Commander was able to understand the language. "Of course! Between the beacons and the Cipher, an understanding of the Prothean language would have been transferred into your mind."

The image then spoke again, but was too damaged for anyone to understand even to Shepard. Garrus could not help but ask. "What is it saying? Can you make out anything useful?"

The image spoke for a couple more times, until it was too garbled for Shepard to understand. Shepard turned to face his squad. "It said something about the Conduit, but it's too degraded to be of any help. We should go."

Huructus told the Commander he would secure this console and search for any useful information, Shepard nodded his head and takes his squad to the second elevator underneath them, but as Shepard was leaving, he could hear the Prothean message saying. "Cannot be stopped" over and over again. To his shame it sent shivers down his spine the way the Prothean said it.

Ilos

Prothean Archives

Shepard and squad got back into the Cougar and drove straight into the bunker. As they were driving Liara could not help but speak of the discovery she had made. "I have spent my entire life studying the Protheans, but I never dreamed I would discover anything like this! This bunker might have been the last refuge of their entire species. Just imagine what mysteries it might hold. Imagine what secrets might be revealed!"

Wrex was getting tired of the Doctor daydreaming and decided to snap her back to reality. "Hey! Remember why we're here. To stop Saren and save the galaxy, not do some digging here and there."

Liara then apologized. "I am sorry... I was swept up in the moment. I just hope we have the opportunity to study this place in detail after this is done."

The Cougar continued going through the bunker going down level by level. Garrus noticed the things on the walls and was wondering what they were. "What are all those things on the walls? Some kind of containers?"

Shepard was the one to answer. "They're stasis pods; they must have tried to cryogenically freeze themselves."

Garrus understood how Shepard knew that. The UNSC had advance cryostasis pods that can keep their own people alive for years if not centuries.

As the Cougar continued driving, Geth began firing at them, but thanks to the Cougar's shields, they shrugged off the attacks and ran over the Geth as they continued onward. After a few seconds, Shepard and squad came across what appeared to be a barrier of some kind. Wrex immediately thought it was trap, but Garrus thought otherwise. Shepard decided to investigate instead of arguing. They all got out of the Cougar and noticed a door to the right side of the Cougar and opened it, and found that the door lead to an elevator. Shepard took the group in the elevator and took them down.

After a few seconds, the elevator stopped and opened to a long bridge with each side having the same stasis pods. Shepard treaded carefully towards the end of the bridge. When he got to the end, a hologram popped up and spoke to the group. "You are not Prothean. But you are not machine, either. This eventuality was one of many that was anticipated. This is why we sent out our warning through the beacons."

Garrus was the first one to speak. "Looks like some kind of VI program, and pretty badly damaged from the looks of it."

The VI spoke again. "I do not sense the taint of indoctrination upon any of you. Unlike the other that passed recently. Perhaps there is still hope."

Liara could not help but be excited. "An actual working Prothean VI, and I can understand it!"

The VI spoke again to explain. "I have been monitoring your communications since you arrived at this facility. I have translated more output into a format you can comprehend. My name is Vigil. You are safe for the moment. But that is likely to change. Soon, nowhere will be safe."

Shepard was curious of how this simple VI was able to explain in detail, as if it were an AI. "Are you some kind of artificial intelligence program?"

Vigil then began to explain himself. "I am an advance non-organic analysis system with personality imprints from Ksad Ishan, chief overseer of the Ilos research facility."

Personality imprints thought Shepard, sounds something like flash cloning to create AI's. Shepard decided to put that aside for now and continued on with the questions. "Why did you bring me here?"

Vigil then explained. "You must break a cycle that has continued for millions of years. But to stop it, you must understand or you will make the same mistakes we did. The Citadel is the heart of your civilization and the seat of government. As it was with us, and as it has been with every civilization that came before us. But the Citadel is a trap. The station is actually an enormous Mass Relay. One that links to Dark Space, the empty void beyond the galaxy's horizon. When the Citadel Relay is activated, the Reapers will pour through. And all you know will be destroyed."

Garrus and Liara were surprised beyond anything in their wildest dreams, they could not believe the Citadel is an inactive Mass Relay for the Reapers return to the galaxy. Garrus as a Spectre thought of how bad it would be if the Reapers succeed "The Reapers can wipe out the Council and the entire Citadel fleet in a single surprise attack! I need to warn the Council."

Shepard on the other hand was not surprised, instead continued on with the questions "How come nobody ever noticed the Citadel was an inactive Mass Relay?"

Vigil began to explain. "The Reapers are careful to keep the greatest secrets of the Citadel hidden. That is why they created a species of seemingly benign organic caretakers. The keepers maintain the station's most basic functions. They enable any species that discovers the Citadel to use it without fully understanding the technology. Reliance on the Keepers ensures no other species will ever discover the Citadel's true nature. Not until the Relay is activated and the Reapers invade."

Shepard asked another question. "How do the Reapers survive out in Dark Space?"

Vigil could only explain in theory "We only have theories. The researchers here came to believe the Reapers enter prolonged states of inactivity to conserve energy. This allows them to survive the thousands and thousands of years it takes for organic civilizations to rebuild itself. But in this state, they are vulnerable. By retreating beyond the edges of the galaxy, they ensure no one will accidentally discover them. They keep their existence hidden until the Citadel Relay is activated."

Shepard thinks about what Vigil said. "The Reapers have the perfect plan, they're smart I'll give them that much."

Vigil only agreed. "That was our fate. Our leaders were dead before we even realized we were under attack. The Reapers seized control of the Citadel and through it, the Mass Relays. Communications and transportation across our empire were crippled. Each star system was isolated, cut off from the others. Easy prey for the Reaper fleets. Over the next decades, the Reapers systematically obliterated our people. World by world, system by system, they methodically wiped us out."

Toha commented on this. "They make the races of the Citadel be dependent on the Mass Relays, then take it away at the moment they need it, but it will have very little effect on the OSA, we possess Slipspace technology and do not need the Relays to travel."

Garrus wasn't reassured with what Toha said. "The Council and every other species of the Citadel will be defenseless, we need to stop Saren."

Shepard was curious by one thing. "The war was lost, if you had surrendered, they might have let you live."

"No offer of surrender was ever given. Our enemy had a single goal: the extinction of all advanced organic life. Through the Citadel the Reapers had access to all our records, maps, census data, information is power, and they knew everything about us. Their fleets advanced across every settled region of the galaxy. Some worlds were utterly destroyed. Others were conquered, their populations enslaved. These indoctrinated servants became sleeper agents under Reaper control. Taken in as refugees by other Protheans, they betrayed them to the machines. Within a few centuries, the Reapers had killed or enslaved every Prothean in the galaxy. They were relentless, brutal and absolutely thorough."

Shepard was confused about something. "I don't understand. Where did the Reapers go after they conquered your people?"

"Our worlds were stripped bare, harvested by the indoctrinated slaves. Everything of value-all resources, all technology-was that all advance Organic life had been extinguished, the Reapers retreated back through the Citadel Relay into Dark Space, Sealing it behind them. All evidence of the Reaper invasion had been wiped away. Only their indoctrinated slaves were left behind, abandoned. Mindless husks no longer capable of independent thought, the indoctrinated soon starved or died of exposure. The genocide of the Protheans was complete."

Shepard could not understand the Reapers' motives. "What do the Reapers get out of this? Why do they keep repeating this pattern of Genocide over and over?"

Vigil could only explain in theory. "The Reapers are alien, unknowable. Perhaps they need slaves or resources. More likely, they are driven by motives and goals that organic beings cannot hope to understand. In the end, what does it matter? Your survival depends on stopping them, not in understanding them."

Shepard had enough and wanted to get to the bottom of all this. "You said you brought me here for a reason. Tell me what I need to do."

"The Conduit is the key. Before the Reapers attacked, we Protheans were on the cusp of unlocking the mysteries behind Mass Relay technology. Ilos was a top secret facility. Here, researchers worked to create a small-scale version of a Mass Relay. One that linked directly to the Citadel: the hub of the Relay Network."

"The Conduit is not a weapon," said Liara, with shock crossing her features, "it is a back door into the Citadel!"

Shepard was curious about one thing. "How did you manage to stay hidden?"

"All official records of our project were destroyed in the initial attack on the Citadel. While the Prothean empire came crashing down, Ilos was spared. We severed all communications with the outside and our facility went dark. The personnel retreated into these archives. To conserve resources, everyone was put into cryogenic stasis. I was programmed to monitor the facility and wake the staff when the danger had passed. But the genocide of an entire species is a long and slow process. Years passed. Decades, centuries. The Reapers persisted. And my energy reserves were dwindling."

Wrex then spoke. "You were all a bunch of cowards. You should have fought instead of hiding underneath a rock."

Toha on the other hand disagreed. "They did the right thing, as the Humans say better to run and hide and live to fight another day."

Vigil continued to explain. "We were a few hundred against a galactic invasion fleet. Our only hope was to remain undetected. I began to disable the life support of non-essential personnel. First support staff, then security. One by one, their pods were shut down to conserve energy. Eventually only the stasis pods of the top scientists remained active. Even these were in danger of failing when the Reapers finally retreated back through the Citadel Relay."

Liara was shocked to hear this. "There were hundreds of stasis pods out there! You just shut them down? You killed them?"

Shepard was disgusted, but understood where Vigil was coming from. "you couldn't let everyone die. Better to sacrifice some so others could live."

Vigil then explained his actions. "This outcome was not completely unforeseen. My actions were a result of a contingency programming entered on my creation."

Garrus then rebuffed about that. "I bet the scientists didn't tell the "non-essential" staff about this contingency."

"I saved key personal. When the Reapers retreated, the top scientists were still alive. My actions are the only reason any hope remains. When the researchers woke, they realized the Prothean species was doomed. There were only a dozen individuals left, far too few to sustain a viable population. Yet they vowed to find some way to stop the Reapers from returning. A way to break the cycle forever. And the Keepers were the key."

Shepard was still confused by something. "I still don't understand what's going on here. Why is Saren trying to find the Conduit?"

"The Conduit gives him access to the Citadel and the Keepers. The keepers are controlled by the Citadel. Before each invasion, a signal is sent through the station compelling the Keepers to activate the Citadel Relay. After decades of feverish study, the scientists discovered a way to alter this signal. Using the Conduit, they gained access to the Citadel and made the modifications. This time, when Sovereign sent the signal to the Citadel, the Keepers ignored it. The Reapers are trapped in dark space."

Shepard then put the pieces together. "Saren must have some plan to undo everything you did."

Vigil agreed. "The one you call Saren will use the Conduit to bypass the Citadel's defenses. Once inside, he will transfer control of the station to Sovereign. Sovereign will override the Citadel's systems and manually open the Relay. And the cycle of extinction will begin again."

Shepard didn't like the sound of that and tried to reassure everyone. "I'll take Sovereign down. Somehow."

"There's a data file in my console. Take a copy when you go. When you reach the Citadel's master control unit, upload it to the station. It might give you a chance against Sovereign"

When Vigil said that, Garrus was only confused. "Wait, where's the Citadel's master control unit? I've never heard of anything like that."

"Through the Conduit. Follow Saren. He will lead you to your destination."

Shepard turned to the others "Saren's got enough of a head start. Grab that data file and let's go!"

Liara on the other hand was not pleased by Shepard's sudden urgent departure "Shepard are you sure? Who knows how much longer Vigil will be here? Even now the projection is weak. This might be our only chance to speak with it - our only link to the knowledge of the Protheans! It is the opportunity of a life time!"

Shepard thought it over and came up with a better idea. "Shepard to Normandy! Equinox are you there?"

It took only a few seconds before Equinox replied "Yes Commander! What do you need?"

"I have a damaged Prothean VI down here, who has vital information on the Reapers. I need you to spare some room on the Normandy to allow it to be saved."

Equinox waited a few seconds to reply "I am ready to accept our new guest, just make a connection on its end."

Shepard disconnects the comm and walked up to Vigil. Shepard activated his omni-tool and Vigil disappeared. Shepard turned around and told everyone to head back up.

On the way up, Liara could not help but say something about the Protheans "All their culture, all their advanced technology, and the Protheans were taken in by the Reapers, just as we were. They failed."

Garrus tries to cheer Liara up. "They didn't fail! They gave us the chance to make things right and now we can't waste it."

The elevator stopped and opened the doors, Shepard and squad got out of the elevator and headed straight to the Cougar, they were not surprised the barrier that was blocking them earlier was gone now. Shepard then pressed on the gas at full throttle and the Cougar went flying down the Archives.

Ilos

Trenches

The Cougar came out of the Archives and immediately came upon a trench that leads to some water, Shepard followed the trenches path. After a while they came upon some Geth a lot of them, turn after turn they were there, but the Cougar weapons were more than enough to take care of them. After few more run inns' with the Geth they made a turn they could see the Conduit.

Liara was amazed at what the Protheans accomplished. "There! The Conduit! It is incredible!"

Garrus tried to get Liara to focus. "We don't have time to admire the view. We have to get through that Relay... and these Geth aren't going to make it easy on us."

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Citadel

Destiny Ascension

Outside of the Citadel was the entire Citadel fleet, the strongest fleet in the galaxy only rivaled by the OSA and TC. Onboard the Destiny Ascension was Matriarch Lindayna, she was responsible for the Ascension and the Citadel fleet. She was prepared for anything and was surprised of how the Council was able to bring in more ships, especially the Asari cruiser's to help defend the Destiny Ascension.

After a while, the sensors on the Ascension were going nuts as a large ship about two kilometers long accompanied by a fleet of Geth ships came out of the Relay and attacked the Citadel fleet. A number of ships were lost, but thanks to the extra dreadnoughts the Turians provided, they were able to fight back.

Lindayna was only thinking one thing: this battle was just getting started and they needed to act fast. She immediately gave out orders "Activate defenses! Seal the station."

The navigator shook her. "The arms aren't moving; the systems not responding!"

Lindanya then made a critical decision. "Abandon the Citadel! Evacuate the Council!"

The Navigator tried to contact Citadel Control. "Citadel control! Citadel control! Do you copy?"

But unknown to the Citadel fleet, the Citadel was already infiltrated by the Geth and Saren.

But unknown to anyone in the battle including Sovereign, there was a ship far away, but still able to see what was going on and reporting to Asgard station of what was happening at the Citadel.

Ilos

Trenches

Shepard was about to take the Cougar straight through the Geth Colossus, but before he did his sensor pinged on a couple of UNSC bombers that flew over him and dropped a couple of bombs on the Geth. Shepard was amazed of how fast they made scrap metal out of the Geth. All of a sudden he received a call from Mikhailovich "Shepard! I hope you like the gift I sent you."

Shepard got on the comm to respond. "Got it and appreciate it Admiral. What about your end, what's going on?"

Mikhailovich came on the comm with a slight grin on his face "The Geth have been destroyed; all remaining forces are nothing but scrap for the Huragok to mess around with, especially Lighter Than Some, he likes messing around with stuff like that. Anyway we just got a message from Admiral Hackett: Sovereign and a fleet of Geth ships are attacking the Citadel. He also said whatever you're going to do, do it now before it's too late."

"What about you? What are you going to do?"

"With the Geth gone, I am to guard Ilos from unwelcome guests, now go Commander you don't have much time."

Shepard pressed on the boosted gravity propulsion drive, and the Cougar went flying-leaving nothing but the bright, fluorescent area of blue energy emanating from the underside of the vehicle. The Cougar came closer and closer to the Conduit, Shepard didn't know if this was going to work or not, but he had to try: and at that moment when they hit the Conduit, the Relay shot them straight into the sky and sent them to the Citadel.

Okay so the next chapter I will show you all how strong Sovereign is and by definition the Reapers in my story. Also don't expect what happened in the battle of the Citadel to be the same as in the next chapter, there is going to be some differences.

Codex: OSA Military Units

Unggoy GOBLIN Special Operations Unit

Every race in the OSA Senate knows of the Unggoy stereotype for cowardice, but there are individuals who are inspired by tales of heroism that become exceptions to the stereotype. The Unggoy GOBLIN Special Operations Unit is a relatively recent branch of the OSA SOCOM made up of the bravest and craziest in Unggoy volunteer soldiers. Like their namesake, the GOBLIN unit specializes in sabotage, breaching, and demolitions work to give the enemy a hard time in fighting.

Kig-Yar RAPTOR Special Operations Unit

Even before the end of the Human-Covenant War, Kig-Yar of both Jackal and Skirmisher subspecies have proven to be natural at the special operations field, and so it was no surprise that they created a new special operations branch known as the RAPTOR unit. Only the best of the best in crackshots for Jackals, or the best free-runners among the Skirmishers are allowed…it is rare that a Kig-Yar of either species has both. The RAPTOR unit specializes in scouting missions, as well as sniper operations.

Yanme'e HORNET Special Operations Unit

The HORNET Special Operations unit is an all-Yanme'e outfit that specializes in aerial assault, and are known to sabotage enemy aircraft. They also do well at harassing enemy ground troops, much like their counterparts in the Human-Covenant War. Like the Unggoy GOBLIN unit, they are a relatively new branch.

Lekgolo OGRE Special Operations Unit

When the OSA formed its SPECOPS organization, (SOCOM as it is also known) for its special operations missions, they realized that sometimes a mech was not always going to be available for CQC, and so the OGRE Special Operations unit was formed for the purposes of Heavy Assault and Area-Denial. Although most of its Mgalekgolo warriors are regular Hunters, the OGRE unit also makes use of Scarabs and is called in when they are needed.

Jiralhane ORC Black Operations Unit

A new division of the Jiralhanae SOCOM branch formed using veteran Stalkers and Jump Pack warriors. Unlike their colleagues in the BRUTE unit, the ORCs are more stealth-oriented and so they aid in Commando operations better than the standard Jiralhanae. Members of this unit typically carry large tungsten-carbide combat knives as both a practical weapon and a symbol of honor among them.