Hey everybody, sorry this took a month to finish, but there isn't really mcuh I can do about that. So I hope you enjoy this latest chapter.

December 7, 2683/2183

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Citadel

Presidium

The Presidium was once a beautiful area where all races could come together and converse in trade or other beneficial opportunities, but at the moment right now it was nothing but a damaged area with fires everywhere, the VI Avina damaged, and Geth crawling everywhere. Two Geth that were standing around guarding the elevator that lead up to the Citadel tower while guarding the tower the Geth then notice about the Conduit's end point begins powering up and the core activates. After a few seconds, a Cougar flew out of the rift and hit the two Geth platforms effortlessly.

When the Cougar came flying out of the Conduit's end point, Shepard immediately transferred power from the shields to the anti-gravity booster too keep the Cougar afloat and not tumble over on its side. He then landed the Cougar on the ground and opened fire on the Geth with its twin cannons.

Once the Geth were taken care of Shepard, and squad got out of the Cougar and looked at the damage around them. Shepard, Toha, and Wrex could care less about the Citadel, but Liara and Garrus were saddened about the whole thing. Garrus then noticed an Avina console, as he walked up to it to get information.

While Garrus was doing that, Shepard gathered the rest of the team around him to discuss the plan. "Alright everyone, we need to find Saren and stop him from releasing the Reapers."

Toha nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we must not allow this plague to wash over the Galaxy."

Wrex just got tired of everybody talking as he let out a grunt of frustration. "Then what the hell are we standing around here for? Let's go get that Turian."

At that moment Garrus walked back over to the others. "Saren is heading to the Citadel tower. That must be where the Master Control Unit is!"

Shepard looked at Garrus "What about the Council?"

Garrus knew the answer. "In accordance to standard emergency procedures, the Council has been evacuated to the Destiny Ascension."

Shepard nodded his head. 'Good' he thought, 'without them here, they won't complain about the damage to the Citadel Tower when we get to Saren'. Shepard looks at everyone and tells them to get in the elevator. They crammed into the elevator and went straight up.

Citadel

Citadel Tower

In the Tower Saren was walking up towards the Petitioner's Stage, but not before he shot at a Keeper in anger. As he walked on the Petitioner's Stage, a platform extended outwards and at the end a holographic panel appeared. Saren began typing on the holographic panel.

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Space Battle

As the Battle with the Geth continued, the Destiny Ascension along with its Asari Cruiser escort moved quickly to secure the Council's Safety, but off in the distance the Citadel Arms began to close, Executor Pallin yelled it out to the Citadel fleet. "The Citadel's closing. They're sealing the station! Don't let the enemy ships inside the arms."

Three Turian dreadnoughts along with five Cruisers began firing at the Geth ships and the 2 km ship now known as Sovereign. Sovereign saw how dangerous the dreadnoughts were for the Geth ships, and fired his secondary weapon: a red stream of molten metal, accelerated to a significant fraction of the speed of light destroyed the three dreadnoughts. Sovereign then plowed through the Cruisers and headed inside the Citadel as its arms closed behind it.

Citadel

Inside of Arms

While inside the Citadel, Sovereign goes straight to the tower and wrapped its arms around the structure. While settling on the tower Sovereign, began emitting red lights around its body and started the process of trying to manually open the Relay to begin the new Cycle of Destruction.

Citadel

Elevator

As the Elevator was going up, Garrus listened in on the Citadel fleet and it wasn't sounding good on their end. The Citadel fleet was taking massive damage from the Geth, and if it wasn't for the extra ships the Council brought in then this would have been a slaughter.

All of a sudden the elevator stopped dead in its tracks and everyone was a little confused, until Garrus shouted out, "Saren's locked the elevator! Suit up - were going outside." Garrus pulled out his pistol and was about to get ready to put on his helmet, but Toha stopped him.

Toha Rafum stopped Garrus and gave everyone a reassuring look. "That will not be necessary." said Toha as he brought up his Omni-tool and began pressing buttons. All of a sudden the elevator began to move again.

Everyone, including Shepard, was surprised at how Toha was able to move the elevator, but before anyone could ask an AI avatar of a Sangheili appeared on Toha's Omni-tool. "Toha Rafum, it is an honor!" said the AI.

Shepard walked up to Toha "I didn't know you carried an AI."

Toha shook his head at the accusation. "No I do not! This AI was already here." Everyone was a little confused by that, Toha then explained. "The OSA left this AI in the Citadel Systems to monitor the Citadel Council."

When Garrus heard that, he was feeling all sorts of things, but what he was feeling the most was anger. "If the Council knew about this, it would be considered an act of war."

Shepard then walked up in front of Garrus. "Like how the Council sent Salarian STG's into the Traverse behind our backs?"

Garrus rebuffed Shepard's accusation "That was to keep an eye on the TC Commander. Your home planets are far away from the TC, our worlds, my homeworld is around the Mass Relay network, the TC could attack. We are protecting ourselves and every race that joins the Citadel."

Shepard understood where Garrus was coming from: Earth and by extension most of her colonies are far away from the Relay network for the Citadel and TC. One would guess everyone in the OSA is pretty damn lucky. Shepard put that whole thing aside for now and looked at the AI. "What's going on? Are you still in the Citadel systems?"

The AI looked at Shepard. "Sovereign is taking control of all primary systems, I could not stay in their very long without it knowing about me."

Shepard looks around the elevator. "How were you able to restart the elevator if Sovereign is taking control?"

"Sovereign is only taking control of primary systems. The elevator is a secondary one."

Liara took this chance to ask a question. "What was it like in the Citadel?"

The AI looked at Toha to confirm if it should answer the Asari's questions. Toha nodded his head to answer. "While I was in the Citadel's systems, it felt overwhelming; the races that live here now may be in control of it, but it is something they themselves could never have built."

Shepard was confused by that. "What do you mean by that?"

"How the Citadel was created and what was installed in it, are rivaled only by Forerunner technology."

This information shocked everyone in the elevator, but before anyone could say anything the elevator stopped at the Citadel tower.

Citadel

Citadel Tower

When the elevator stopped at the tower, Shepard and squad were prepared for anything, but instead no one was waiting for them. Shepard slowly walked out of the elevator and scanned the surrounding area for anything with his Omni-tool. After the scan showed up with nothing, he signaled the others to move forward. Garrus and Liara moved behind Shepard while Toha and Wrex moved up in front. They then moved together with Shepard in the middle.

As they got closer, all of Saren's forces rushed out from hiding and converged on their location. Shepard screamed everyone to spread out, but Toha as the Sangheili warrior he was charged at them with his plasma sword in one hand and three plasma grenades in the other. Toha jumped really high for a Sangheili and stuck the three plasma grenades onto a Geth trooper, Juggernaut, and a Krogan battle master. When Toha landed behind the enemy he began slashing his way through. The Geth were no match for Toha's incredible swordsmanship.

When Wrex saw this, he didn't want to miss out on the action and charged in the battle with Toha holding his shotgun and blasting Geth along the way. Shepard what was happening and decided to take Garrus and Liara to go after Saren while Toha and Wrex handled Saren forces here.

Shepard, Garrus, and Liara ran past the battle. Toha saw this and understood what the Commander was doing. As Shepard took the rest of his squad to chase after Saren, Toha and Wrex were back to back and grinned at the fight they were having. Wrex began to count the number of enemies they were facing. "Hey Sangheili, I bet you free drinks for an entire night says I will get more kills than you by the end of the day."

Toha just laughed at that statement. "I commend you for trying Krogan, but it will be me who is victorious in this fight. You'd better be ready to treat me to all the Ryncol I can drink!" As both warriors laughed at the excitement, Geth and Krogan warlords, and Battle masters charged right at the pair for what might look like a slaughter.

Citadel

Citadel Tower

Council Chambers

As Shepard, Garrus, and Liara walked up the stairs to the Master Control Unit, Saren was finishing typing on the holographic keyboard, he heard footsteps coming towards him, He finished up with the MCU and jumped down from the platform.

Shepard and Squad ran up to the platform where the MCU was; Shepard had his pistol out ready to put a bullet in Saren's head, but was surprised when he didn't see anyone. After a few seconds, he reappeared on his flying platform and threw a grenade at the squad and everyone leaped for cover. Saren didn't go after everyone just yet, as he decided to gloat on his victory over Shepard. "I was afraid you wouldn't make it in time, Shepard."

"Had to wipe out a few hundred of your followers along the way. Sorry if I kept you waiting."

"You've lost! You know that, don't you? In a few minutes, Sovereign will have full control of all the Citadel's systems! The Relay will open! The Reapers will return!"

"I'm heading to that master control panel, and you can't stop me!"

"You survived our encounter on Virmire. But I've changed since then. Improved! Sovereign has...upgraded me."

Shepard could not believe what he heard. "You let Sovereign implant you? Are you insane?"

Saren only felt confident "I suppose I should thank you, Shepard. After Virmire, I couldn't stop thinking about what you said. About Sovereign manipulating me, about Indoctrination. The doubts began to eat away at me. Sovereign sensed my hesitation, and I was implanted to strengthen my resolve. Now my doubts are gone. I believe in Sovereign completely, I understand that the Reapers need organics. Join us and Sovereign will find a place for you, too."

Shepard just spat at Saren's olive branch. "I'd rather die than live like a slave."

"Then you will die; you and your companions. Everyone you know and love. Everyone you've ever met. Don't you understand? You will all die! But I do guess that wouldn't bother me one bit. In fact I do hope the Reapers will wipe out your kind and the OSA. The Reapers can't be stopped. Not by the Protheans, and most definitely not by you. The cycle always continues."

Shepard decided to convince Saren to step aside. "Sovereign hasn't won yet. I can stop it from taking control of the station! Step aside and the invasion will never happen!"

Saren shook his head, he disagreed with Shepard's logic. "We can't stop it! Not forever. You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans. The Reapers are too powerful."

Shepard tried to reach out to Saren. "Some part of you must still realize this is wrong. You can fight this!"

Saren began to rethink his whole plan and how wrong it was. "Maybe you're right. Maybe there is still a chance for...uhh!" Saren looked like he was in serious pain. "The implants.. Sovereign is too strong. I'm sorry. It's too late for me."

Shepard left his hiding spot and looked at Saren. "There's still one way to stop this... if you've got the guts."

Saren looked at Shepard with regret of what he had done and the realization of what needed to do. "Goodbye, Shepard. Thank you." Saren pulled out his pistol and shoots himself in the head. He fell off his hovercraft and into the skylights of the park below.

Shepard walks up to the terminal and uploaded Vigil's data file. After taking control of the systems, he turned back to his squad to tell them the good news. "Vigil's data file worked. I've got control of all systems."

Garrus then made a quick suggestion. "Open the station's arms. Maybe the fleet can take Sovereign down before he regains control of the station!"

Liara then joined in. "See if you can open a communications channel."

Shepard turned back to the terminal and opened up communications and was getting all sorts of information, the one thing he heard was the Destiny Ascension and by extension the Council was safely away from the battle. After that he heard a very familiar voice and was sure as hell glad to hear it. "Normandy to the Citadel. Normandy to the Citadel. Please tell me that's you, Commander."

Shepard just smiled. "You were expecting someone else?"

"We caught that message, Commander. It sounds like the Council won't be getting in our way when we go after Sovereign."

Shepard was confused. "Joker did you say "we"?"

Joker responded immediately ."That's right, Commander. I'm sitting here in the Andures sector with the entire Asgard fleet and the Albion. We can stop Sovereign. Just unlock the Relays around the Citadel and we'll send the cavalry in!"

Garrus heard what Joker said and stepped in. "Shepard! The Council is out of danger, you should unlock the Relays and bring in the OSA fleet to stop Sovereign."

Shepard turned to face Garrus. "What about the Citadel fleet? I thought you of all people want us to save Turian lives."

Garrus shakes his head. "This is bigger than Turians, Asari, and Salarians. Sovereign is a threat to every organic species in the galaxy, you need to focus on Sovereign."

Liara then steps in. "He's right. That's why you can't waste reinforcements trying to save what's left of the Citadel fleet. You must hold them back until the Citadel arms open and the OSA fleet can go after Sovereign!"

Shepard smiled at Garrus for understanding the bigger picture and turns back to the Terminal. Joker then came back on the comm. "What's the order, Commander? Come in now to save the Citadel fleet or hold back?"

"Hold back Joker! Focus everything we have on Sovereign."

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Widow Relay

At the Widow Relay a whole fleet of OSA ships came out of FTL and in the middle of that fleet was the new Titan-class Dreadnought Albion, heading straight for the Citadel. On the slipspace comm. Admiral Hackett told everyone to hold back until they get a clear shot at Sovereign.

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Destiny Ascension

Conference Room

In the conference room of the Ascension was where the Citadel Council wanted to hear news of the battle. After a few seconds of information pouring through their consoles, they were shocked to hear that the OSA fleet had entered in their territory without their permission. At first the Turian Council believed it to be an invasion while the Citadel is at its weakest, but the Asari and Salarian Councilor disagreed as the OSA fleet has not fired a single shot since they arrived and was seen heading towards the Citadel.

Serpent Nebula

Citadel

Space

As the Citadel fleet moved away from the battle that was taking place. The Citadel arms began to open, revealing Sovereign attached to the Citadel tower. Hackett gave out orders to the fleet. "The Citadel's opening! All ships move in! Concentrate on Sovereign!"

The OSA fleet gathered around Sovereign and was preparing to fire everything they had at the Reaper, but the Captain of the Albion told everyone to move out of his way.

OSA Titan-Class Dreadnought Albion

Bridge

On the bridge of the Albion, everyone was in action preparing for a fight. Captain Cole was sitting in his chair looking at Holographic representation of Sovereign. He was neither impressed nor intimidated by the sight, but he turned to look at Victoria. "Are the two Super MACs ready?"

Victoria just looked at him with a confident smile "They've been ready since we came out of the Relay."

Cole smiled. "Well it looks like this is going to be over before it even started." Cole looked at the weapons officer. "Fire on my mark." The Sangheili officer was prepared, Cole then gave him the signal to fire.

Citadel

Space

Out in space, the Albion opened fire with its two Super MACs at Sovereign, everyone in the fleet was thinking this was over before it even started, but to everyone's amazement and complete and utter shock was that Sovereign survived the attack.

Albion

Bridge

Cole got up from his chair and looked out the window with his mouth wide open in shock, to him, Sovereign should have been destroyed. To everyone on the bridge, the history behind the Super MAC was that no ship OSA or UNSC has ever survived a shot from one. After all, they were based off of the ODP's the UNSC used to defend their planets.

Cole immediately snapped out of his shock and went back to his chair and looked at Victoria for answers, but it just so happened Victoria did have answer or what she got from the sensors "Sovereign has extended his mass effect fields to lower the weight of the two tungsten rounds and increased his kinetic barriers to 130%, far beyond anything Citadel Council can do."

Cole still couldn't believe it and asked the obvious question behind ODP theories. "Victoria why hasn't Sovereign suffered from an overheating due to thermodynamic energy? Isn't it theorized that if a ship's armor or shields were to absorb all the kinetic energy of a Super MAC round, the release of thermodynamic energy would still vaporize the ship?"

Victoria looks at him and for the first time in an AI as herself she did not have the answer. "I am sorry Captain, but it would seem Sovereign has disproven that theory."

Cole asked if they could send over a nuke inside of Sovereign, but Victoria shook her head. "Sovereign is emitting the same kind of jamming field the Geth are using to block our transporters from sending anything over."

As Cole looked like he was about to rethink his plan of attack, Alum'ee appeared on the Captain's left side. "Captain Cole I detected internal damage to Sovereign when the tungsten rounds impacted against its kinetic barriers, I believe another round would finish this."

Cole nods his head in confirmation and orders another shot, but unfortunately Sovereign decided to play on the offensive. The Weapons Officer told everyone that Sovereign was returning fire. Everyone on the bridge expected Sovereign to fire his Magnetic-Hydrodynamic Weapon, but instead he fired his primary weapon. A build up of dark energy was detected by the sensors of the Albion and out came a black stream of pure dark energy that collided with the Albion's shields.

Sparks were flying everywhere on the bridge as Captain Cole tried to assess the damage, Sovereign immediately opens fire on the fleet with the same weapon, frigates are destroyed, or crippled, Cruisers, and Heavy Cruisers, are damaged, but still capable to fight. Sovereign then aimed at the Albion again. This time he fired twice at the dreadnought.

Cole looked around at the damage and looked to Victoria for more information, she began listing the damage Sovereign did. "Shields are down to 83%, we have multiple hull breaches on multiple decks, the Super MAC and by extension the standard MACs are offline."

Cole stood up and gave out orders. "Let's put some distance between us and Sovereign, open fire with the plasma weapons and lancer missile pods, and div..."

Before Cole could say another word, the Sensors officer interrupted. "I am detecting small orb-like things coming from Sovereign. I think Sovereign is releasing fighters."

The communications officer then spoke. "Admiral Hackett has ordered the release of our own fighters to intercept."

Cole nodded his head and gave out the order, he then walks up to the holo screen to get a clear look at, Sovereign's own fighters. A ball shape with a red glowing eye, Cole tells Victoria to designate these fighters as, Oculus to their own squadrons.

Citadel

Space

In the OSA fleet everyone was releasing YSS-1000 Sabres and GA-TL5 Longswords. In one of the Sabres was a Spartan that went by his serial number B312, who is leading blue squadron to attack the right side of the Oculus formation. As the Sabre squadron get closer the Oculus fires a beam weapon at the Sabre squadron, some of the Sabres were hit by this weapon, but thanks to their shields they were protected. B312 orders everyone to open fire on all the Oculus as the Sabres launched their medusa missiles. The Longswords carrying some heavy explosive missiles went straight for Sovereign and released a hailstorm at the Reaper, Sovereign however as the AI it is countered the missiles with its guardian lasers and was able to take down 2/3 of missiles that were released and continue opening fire on the fleet with its dark energy weapon.

UNSC Everest-Class Dreadnought Elbrus

Bridge

The Elbrus was Admiral Hackett's personal dreadnought and was his place to command the OSA fleet to go after Sovereign. Hackett was standing near a window looking at the dog fight that was taking place, his ship suffered serious damage from Sovereign' weapon and looks at his AI to find out about this weapon "Excalibur, can you tell me anything about Sovereign's new weapon?"

Excalibur took on the appearance of a medieval knight with a sword and shield, he looks at Hackett for a moment before speaking "just before Sovereign fired, I did detect a buildup of dark energy somewhere in the center of Sovereign. The weapon itself fires the same way as his Magnetic-Hydrodynamic weapon fires. How he is able to use dark energy in this manner is unknown to us, and it is something we should be worried about."

Hackett had questioning look on his face "why do you believe we should be worried?"

Excalibur looks at Hackett with fear in his eyes "Dark energy is the name given to the universal "fifth force" identified by astronomers during Earth's late 20th century. Like electromagnetism or gravity, dark energy influences all matter in the galaxy, and its effects can be seen on both cosmological and subatomic scales. The repulsive effects of dark energy are the primary reason the expansion of the universe is gradually accelerating. For Sovereign to use it in its purest form like this is something that we should be worried about."

Hackett nods his head and looks at the communications officer "call in the second wave! I clearly underestimated Sovereign." said Hackett as he shakes his head with regret.

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

Citadel

About 130,000 kilometers behind Sovereign, thirty slipspace portals opened up and out came a mixture of Sangheili and Jiralhanae ships along with a 27km-long Super Carrier in the middle of the fleet being lead by Rtas Vadum onboard his ship Shadow of Intent. The Second wave of OSA Ships headed straight for Sovereign and opened fire with their plasma weapons.

Citadel Tower

Council Chambers

As the battle was taking place outside of the Citadel, Shepard, Garrus and Liara looked down at Saren's corpse, Shepard looked back at Garrus and Liara, the gesture he made with his head was clear before he even said it. "Make sure he's dead."

Garrus and Liara jumped down from the platform and into the garden, Garrus walked up to the corpse and pulled out his pistol empty his thermal clip into Saren's head. Liara got on the radio. "He is dead."

Shepard smiled when he heard that, he then turned around to see Toha and Wrex walking towards him, but before he could tell them the good news. The station suddenly rocked and shook as red lightning bolts were seen all around. Saren's body became infused with the bolts and an explosion sent Garrus and Liara against a wall. The platform Shepard was standing on dropped and dumped the Commander into the field below. Meanwhile the implants in Saren's body had come to life and stripped away the flesh that covered them. Eventually all that was left was a metal skeleton that looked around and jumped onto a wall. "I am Sovereign!"it said, "And this station is MINE!"

The Commander was shocked to believe Sovereign was able to control Saren's skeletal remains and moved it around like a puppet. Shepard snapped out of it and pulled his assault rifle, emptying the magazine at the husk, Garrus and Liara are not far behind and they both pull their weapons out and took aim. Unfortunately for all of them, Sovereign made the implants very maneuverable and hopped around dodging Shepard and his squad's attacks, as the husk jumped from one side of the room to the other, Toha decided to jump right at the husk in mid air with his energy sword. Both of them collided and rolled backwards, the husk quickly gained the advantage by rolling on its back side and pushing Toha with its legs up, and the Sangheili was sent flying upwards to an area in the garden with a ceiling knocking him out on impact and falling back on the ground.

Wrex jumped down with a big thud and charged at the husk, but it knocked back Wrex with a carnage shot. Shepard and Liara used throw to send the husk against a wall, while Garrus threw a grenade at it and it exploded against its kinetic barriers, but that didn't slow the husk down and sent a biotic blast at Garrus and Liara leaving Shepard alone to face the husk.

Shepard threw his assault rifle to the side and began emitting a biotic aura around him, staring down at the husk for a while until he charged at the husk with glowing biotics in both hands. The husk did the same and as both Shepard and the husk collided with a biotic force that would terrify an Asari Matriarch. The blast sent Shepard flying across the garden and slammed against the wall, Shepard was moaning in pain as his left arm was broken and suffered a couple of cracked ribs.

As Shepard turned to look at the husk that was sent the other way and was lying on the ground. It seemed like it was destroyed, but to Shepard's surprise the husk began to move and standing on one leg, it turned to look at Shepard. The damage was clearly seen on the husk as it began walking towards Shepard, it was missing its left leg, had a damaged right arm and part of its face was cracked.

As the husk walked over to Shepard, Sovereign spoke again "Shepard! Your species will know true suffering when my kind returns to the galaxy. Your worlds will burn, your technology will be incorporated into our own collective, but you will not be here to see it, my voice will be the last thing you hear before I end your existence."

As Shepard laid there on the ground thinking of how he could get out of this situation, but had a smile on his face when he saw a friend coming up behind the husk. As Sovereign walked closer to Shepard, a plasma sword ran through its metallic chest, and its neck was held by Toha as it continued to plunge the sword deep through its metallic chest. "Before you end anyone's existence, I will silence you myself." said Toha as he pulled back his sword from the husk. The husk then collapsed on its knees and Saren's synthetic remains disintegrated before both Toha and Shepard's eyes.

Citadel

Space

During the battle in space the second wave took minor damage from Sovereign's main weapon, but Sovereign was taking a beating from both sides as it lost three of its arms and internal damage was taking a toll on its systems, but at that moment when Toha plunged his plasma sword into the husk Sovereign was controlling, Sovereign's shields dropped and the massive ship released its grip on the station.

Albion

Bridge

On board the dreadnought, Cole heard over the radio from Joker that Sovereign's shields have dropped. "Captain, the Super MACs are online," said Victoria with an edge of urgency, "it's now or never!" With a nod, Cole looked at everyone on the bridge with a smile. "Blow that bastard into oblivion!"

Citadel

Space

The Albion moved across the battlefield of destroyed ships and fired its two Super MACs at Sovereign, the force from the weapons smashed Sovereign into thousands of pieces across the Citadel. One piece in particular was heading straight for the Citadel Tower.

Citadel Tower

Council Chambers

As Toha was helping Shepard out of the garden. The others were gathering around thinking that this was finally over, while Shepard looked out the window and saw a piece of Sovereign heading towards them. "Go!" he shouted, but before anyone could move Shepard and his entire squad was teleported out of the Council chambers.

1 hour later

Serpent Nebula

Widow System

UNSC Heavy Cruiser- Troy

On board the Troy, Captain Anderson was in charge of overseeing the cleanup of all OSA ships that were destroyed in the battle against Sovereign. As he was looking over the latest reports, Shepard and Toha entered the bridge. Anderson greeted both of them "Shepard, Toha, how are you both feeling?"

Shepard nodded to Anderson "Much better now that my arm and ribs are fixed up, Toha however refused medical assistance."

Anderson understood why. While they've lightened up in recent years and put doctors in a better light thanks to Thel 'Vadam's reforms, it would be very dishonorable for a traditionalist Sangheili warrior if blood was shed in a hospital and not on the battlefield. Toha took this opportunity to find out the one thing that was on Shepard and his mind. "Are we at war with the Citadel Council?"

Anderson shakes his head. "No we are not. The Council, however is upset about how the OSA invading their space without permission, is overlooking the situation since we did save the Citadel from Sovereign, but they told us to stop cleaning up Sovereign's remains since its technically in Citadel space, they have all claims to it."

Shepard and Toha looked at each other with anger in each other's eyes, Shepard then spoke. "Anderson, is the Defense Committee going along with this, given everything that's happened? I highly doubt that even the President herself would stand for this."

Anderson didn't like it either and it showed on his face. "Sorry Shepard, but this is to prevent an all-out war between us and them. The Council is letting us stay here to clean up our ships that were destroyed. If it's any consolation, President Hwang was against it every step of the way…I wouldn't be surprised if she were to step down and take command of a battalion of ODST's and SPARTANs like she did in the Human-Covenant War. I also pity the poor soul that came up with that idea when she finds them—I have a feeling that she'll do more than chew him or her out for their lack of a spine."

Toha growled in anger. He could not blame the human president…in fact, he felt she had the right idea even though he knew that that woman was not someone to be trifled with. "I cannot believe that we are letting something dangerous to us, in the hands of the Council, we should force them to hand it over."

Anderson shook his head. "Not going to happen, but I do have some orders for you." Shepard and Toha look at Anderson with confusion as they have just gotten out of a battle that save the galaxy. Anderson explained "Shepard in light of everything you have done, you're a hero to everyone including the Citadel Council even if they won't admit it, but you are being sent into the Terminus systems to hunt down what's left of the Geth, our fleets in the Traverse have pushed them back and now they're on the run." Anderson looks at Toha "Toha your being reassigned to lead the Sangheili Senator's strike team in the Terminus systems to sabotage TC mining operations."

Shepard saluted the captain and Toha bowed his head and left to go on their separate missions.

UNSC Normandy

Conference Room

Shepard gathered everyone in the Conference room, except for Garrus, who has returned back to the Citadel as he was a Spectre and needed to report to the Council of his findings. Shepard looked at everyone and was really proud of his team and what they all did together. "First off, let me thank you all, for sticking with me to the end." Everyone in the room had a smile on their faces, Shepard continued. "But I am afraid we are not going to be taking shore leave. The Defense Committee wants me to take the Normandy into the Terminus Systems to hunt down what's left of the Geth."

Nobody questioned this and instead they left the room to go prepare, except for Wrex who walked up to the Commander "Shepard! I'm leaving."

Shepard looked at Wrex with a raised eyebrow "Really? I'm surprised Wrex, why are you leaving?"

Wrex sighed at that. "My contract with the Shadow Broker is over and I need to go spend some credits, also I am thinking about going back to Tuchunka and see what has become of it."

Shepard understood and said good bye to his friend.

Citadel

Citadel Tower

Council Chambers

After the battle was over. The Council called back all ships on patrol of the Relays that were linking Citadel space to the Terminus Systems to help protect the Citadel. The Council then convened in the Chambers to discuss what has happened, Sparatus was angry and happy at the same time, he then spoke to his fellow Councilors. "Even though the OSA has yet again made us look like fools, we now have what we need to increase our power and authority in Citadel space."

Tevos completely agreed for once with Sparatus. "Yes we now have the means to increase our power, the Geth dreadnought called Sovereign obviously showed more power then we could have imagined. We must get our best scientists studying its technology right away so we can reverse engineer it."

Valern agreed, but made a suggestion. "I do agree with all of you that we must study its remains, but we must also must come up with a new dreadnought to defend the Citadel and Citadel space."

Tevos and Sparatus looks at Valern with confusion on their face, Valern then explained. "As you all know, the OSA created a new dreadnought with three of the most powerful races put their advance technology into it, I recommend whatever we find out from Sovereign after we study it's technology all three of us should build a dreadnought to rival the OSA's own ships."

Tevos and Sparatus thought it over and knew the benefits would be great for them all, the only thing would be who would crew the dreadnought and command it, but they will deal with it when they come down that road in building this new dreadnought.

OSA Space

High Charity

Senate Chamber

In the Senate Chambers, the Senators finished looking over the reports about the battle at the Citadel and what Sovereign was capable of doing. Anita began the meeting. "Obviously Sovereign had technology far beyond anything we have seen and the Citadel itself is something of a mystery too. The AI we left in the Citadel's systems gave a report to us that the Citadel was far older than anything the Forerunners built, and the systems are rivaled only by Forerunner technology."

Tranquility shook his head; he could not believe what the reports said. "Obviously this AI was defective and could not tell the difference between an inferior piece of technology to superior ones, especially our gods the great Forerunners."

'Rolamee slams his fist on the table, and Anita followed as it was starting to get annoying when 'Rolamee did that. "We should have sent the full force of the fleet we have in the Relay network to the Citadel and took those remains instead of being peaceful and letting the Citadel Council round up those pieces."

Anita shook her head. "It would have lead to war. Let's forget about that for now and focus on the threat at hand, we need to push ahead with Project Crusader!"

'Rolamee just snarled at hearing that. "No Sangheili will ever be a part of such disgrace, we have our pride."

Anita shook her head at that notion. "You've shown respect for the SPARTANs 'Rolamee, why not for these troops? Ever since the discovery of the Reapers, things have escalated…and so we need to get stronger as soon as possible for the upcoming war!"

Upon hearing that, 'Rolamee's eyes had widened—it was then that he realized his words, and the contrite look on his face had shown. Tranquility then stepped in. "Who should be the one to take control of project Crusader?"

Anita looked at the two Senators. "I am giving full support of the project to UNION intelligence, they need a program of their own now more than ever."

'Rolamee liked the idea of giving control of the project to the UNION as a majority of the organization is mainly Sangheili. "I agree."

Tranquility nods his head in approval "I also agree."

Anita then closed her terminal and dismissed the other Senators. As she got up from her seat and walked out of the Chamber to a window overlooking the OSA fleet that protected High charity from any threats. She looked out in the vastness of space contemplating all the things that had happened so far. "The road to victory will be a long and bloody one, but the price of defeat will mean the end of everything."

Okay so this is the end of the ME1 story plot, the next chapter won't be going directly into the ME2 plot, instead I have something else planned. That I think you are all going to enjoy. Also below me are two codex's instead of one, the second codex is the important one, the second one is something I am going to let you the fans decide if I should go with the idea or not. You can either write on the review about project crusader or PM me to tell me what you think about it.

So I hope everyone who read this chapter is happy with the out come I have given you, and any complaints about certain things in the story you can either PM me or write it on the review and I will get back to you about it.

Codex Entry: Hwang Mei

Hwang Mei is the current president of the UEG and UNSC, and a veteran of the Human-Covenant War. Despite her attractive appearance, she maintains a stubborn but fair demeanor in and out of politics and her reforms have made it such that terrorism would quashed at the source. Her iron will, policies, and style of leadership have earned her the title 'the Aria T'Loak of the UNSC'…this also earned her a grudging respect with the Pirate Queen of Omega herself, as well as a rumored friendly rivalry with her.

Second Codex Entry: Project Crusader

Project Crusader- Will incorporate the augmentation procedure the UNSC used in the Spartan program and apply it to three other races in the OSA. Sangheili, Jiralhanae,, Kig-Yar. Specifics about project Crusader are as follows.

Sangheili- will be able to jump 4 times higher than before, they'll be 3 times stronger than before, claws grow faster and become more sharper, scales becomes hard, they become 9 ft tall. Their superior agility will also be enhance greatly.

Jiralhanae- will able to crush a Mgalekgolo single handed thanks to strong bones and muscles, will able to jump 2 times higher than before, fur becomes more shaggy, canines become more taller & sharper, they become 10 ft tall and the berserk killing-rage is completely under controlled.

Kig-Yar- will able to run 50 mph, will able to jump 3 times higher than before, more feathers grow, more teeth grow (if a tooth is lost, they have the replacing system similar to the great white sharks on earth), claws become more sharper, will able to smash a sangheili to pulp thanks to the bones and muscles, they become 5.9 ft tall. Their extraordinary senses of sight, hearing, and smell are also increased.