A/N: Alrighty all set ups aside I think it's time to dive into action. Hold on tight, might be a bumpy ride xD

Chapter 14

Shepard had ordered for a full sweep to see if there were any escape pods or shuttles that might have contained any survivors from the wreckage that once was Omega. While that happened she had a couple of her com people check for any distress calls on all channels. The Reapers were here, nothing else could have decimated Omega like this.

The upper half of the station was all that remained. Everything else was in small pieces and parts, or just no longer existed. Kate surveyed everything closely while she thought up a battle plan. Who could she call in for back up? Who would come? Who would even believe her that the Reapers did this?

Every other time she cried Reapers no one believed her aside from her crew. It was sitting right there in their faces but they chose to ignore it. The council, the Alliance, they were too ignorant. Or maybe the fear drove them into denial. She sighed as she patted one Daniel Nickals on the back as she walked off towards the elevator.

She brought her hand to her ear piece as she called up Joker. "Joker, when you guys find something let me know. I'll be in my cabin." she muttered before cutting off her com as she walked into the elevator. She had a headache and she had one last thing to take care of before shit hit the fan. It may be the last chance she'd get.

As she rode up the elevator her hand was stuffed in her pant pocket. She played around with the content within it as she sighed heavily. Not the best of times, Shepard. She thought to herself with a mutter. She frowned outwardly as the elevator came to a stop on her floor. She stepped out and up to her cabin doors.

She opened it up as she stepped inside, looking around for her bondmate. She gave a more shaky sigh this time. She felt nervous despite the.. awkward moment about to come along. She wanted to wait until it was over, until the Reapers had been taken care of. But she doubted very much she would get to. She could feel death stalking her, as it always had but... She knew her luck had to end somewhere.

"Liara?" she called out softly as she stepped up to her office area. An hour had passed by since she had yelled at the Council for the incident with Omega. She blamed them still. If they had listened... if they all had listened.. they could have taken this chance, a chance no other species probably had, to build a defense.

She heard the door to her bathroom swish open as she turned around. Liara stepped out, towel wrapped around herself as she smiled at the young Asari. It was amazing, even with all that was going on around them Liara had snuck off to the restroom. "A shower at a time like this?" She questioned as she leaned against her desk. Liara shrugged slightly as she held her arms against herself.

"It... helps me relieve stress." She said quietly. Kate frowned some. Liara hadn't moved from her spot as she looked off to the fish tank. Kate followed her gaze as the fish swam around, not a care in the world, not knowing the danger they faced just by being on the ship. Did they even feel fear?

"Did it help?" Kate asked quietly before stepping up to Liara's side. Liara nodded slightly but remained silent. Kate reached up, her hand gently came under Liara's chin as she turned her gaze towards her. "What's wrong?" she asked. Stupid question. She thought to herself. She knew what was wrong, the galaxy as they knew it could very well end in the near future.

"I worry for you Kate.." Liara said quietly as she sighed. Kate ran her fingers lightly over Liara's cheek gently. "Don't worry so much, I'll be fine." Kate said with a half smile, though her eyes held doubt. She was never good at lying when it came to Liara. She worried for herself to be honest, but she worried more about keeping her bondmate safe.

"Liara, there's... something I wanted to.. ask, do, whatever.. before hell broke loose." Kate said as she watched the other carefully. Liara looked at her a bit puzzled. Kate reached into her pocket before she grabbed Liara's hand with her free one. "I may not get another chance. Believe me I have no death wish, so I want to do this now.. before it's too late." Kate said as Liara watched her closely.

"Kate you won't die. You can't I won't allow it." Liara said hotly. She wasn't about to pretend this would be some of her final days with Kate. They had plans. They wanted to find a new home, raise their kid, stay out of the way of politics and gun fights, not to mention the explosions. They were weary of constant battle. This would be Kate's final mission.

"Liara let me finish please.." Kate said quietly as she gave her pleading eyes. Liara just gave her a half glare as she nodded once. Kate smiled at her more brightly now as she reached up trailing the chain around the woman's neck. Her dog tags she imagined. Liara never took them off.

She then let out a quick breathe as she pulled her hand out of her pocket. She had wanted to wait, to even discuss Asari's customs for this sort of thing, but the oncoming threat and the arrival of the Reapers made her realize they may not have that luxury. She slapped herself over the head mentally for not doing this sooner.

She got onto one knee as she took Liara's left hand. "I know it's.. perhaps not the best or most romantic of times," Kate started. Liara looked at her with disbelief in her body stance and facial expressions. "Kate -" she tried to say something but Kate quickly cut her off. "Liara, no one else in this galaxy gets me, and I know what we face, and I will make sure you are safe, and that you will have a life ahead of you. For you, and for our daughter." She said as she quickly kissed Liara's hand.

"Liara, marry me?" she said as she slipped a ring into her hand. Liara fell silent as Kate let her hand go as she brought the jewelery up to examine closer. The outer rim was gold, but the center of the band held simple Earth crystals next to the gold, and in the center of the crystals were blue gems. The gems matched the color of Liara's eyes.

She remembered a comment Kate made once about her eyes. She said they were the most amazing eyes she'd ever seen. The memory brought a flush to her cheeks. She had yet to even say anything as the ring sat in the palm of her hand. She knew Kate would be there for her, for their child but she never figured, despite how much Kate loved her, she'd take to truly settling down.

Kate stood up as she watched Liara patiently. Liara finally smiled as she nodded. "Yes." she said as she threw her arms around Kate in a hug. Kate was dazed. She expected some argument or refusal out of the other. But her heart fluttered as it registered in her mind. She had said yes.

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It didn't take long after Kate had... well popped the question. Joker called for her, there was a distress call coming from Invictus. It was mostly a planet populated by Turians out in the Terminus Systems. The call came in with chop but it came in clear enough to get the drift. Large ships, attacking the planet, need help. That was the gist of it.

She had ordered the course and they were on the move.

It would take them a while to get there but hopefully they'd be able to get there before it was too late. It took a long time for the Reapers to take out the Protheans, she remembered this from her talk with Vigil on Ilos. But that didn't mean it took them a while to wipe out a planet. She could only pray.

While they were heading to Invictus at best possible speeds she went to the briefing room. She had to call in help. She couldn't do this alone. By themselves it would be suicide. No doubt the Turians were on the way but she knew it would take more then that. "Edi set up a link with the Himalayas. I need to talk to Ashley Williams." Shepard said as she stepped onto the holo projector platform.

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Ashley had been informed by the brass of possible threats out in the Terminus Systems. Though the details were vague she had already plotted course for the cluster of the Galaxy normally ran by pirates and mercs. From the report she had on file it claimed Geth Dreadnaughts, but she knew better.

She knew they had a small fleet on the way to investigate the matter. But the Geth hadnt been seen in years. The only other reason she could think of them appearing again would be because of the Reapers. She believed in them, she just tried to think that business was far behind her now. But it seemed Shepard was right.

She then heard her personal com terminal going off. She looked over as it's ID flashed Katelyn Shepard's name. Now she knew something wasnt right. She walked over to the computer as she accepted the call. It took a moment for it to connect but once it did she was greeted by a woman who didn't even look like she had aged in the past 7 years.

"I have a feeling this isn't a personal call, Commander." Ashley greeted. She still held a small grudge over the woman joining Cerberus all those years ago. Though Katelyn was no longer apart of them, she even had all the symbols for the organization removed from the ship's hull and interior. The crew even got rid of the outfit.

"Ash, I know we havent spoken in years but I need your help." Shepard said to her. Ashley perked a brow at the woman. Her tone had changed. No longer as rough, or aggressive. It had tamed, her expression, her eyes. Like time had given her more wisdom to mild her temper. She had to wonder how a woman thrown into such constant chaos how she had changed.

"You and everyone else, Shepard. I'm heading out to the Terminus Systems, reports of Geth tearing the place up or something." Ashley replied with a shrug. She was sure Shepard already knew this though. Shepard had taken to hiding out in the Terminus Systems ever since she had joined Cerberus. Even now.

She heard a heavy sigh as Shepard's expression grew annoyed rather quickly. Ashley threw her hands up in her own defense. "I'm only saying what the reports said Shepard." Ashley said before she let her hands drop down again. "It's them isn't it, Skipper?" She asked quietly. She only watched as Shepard stood straight, her arms folding behind her back.

"Omega is gone, Ashley. There's not much left of it out here, no survivors that we found." Shepard said rather then answering the question straight forward. The look in Ashley's eyes told shock, disbelief, and regret all at the same time. "Innocents lived on that station, people who didn't have to die, I'm going to make the Reapers pay. I'd like your help." Shepard then added.

Ashley looked down a moment in thought. Well she was asked to investigate she didn't have to be at a specific place. "I have a small fleet with my, Skipper. Give me a heading we'll meet up." She then said as she sat more straight in her chair. She knew that once they were done in the Terminus systems the Reapers would hit council space next.

"We're heading to Invictus. The Turian colonial planet. They sent out an SOS. They're being hit as we speak." Shepard said as she watched for Ashley's reaction. She knew she had a distrust in aliens, probably Turians more then any others. Ashley could see the look she was being given. It was somewhat weary.

"We'll be there as soon as possible, Skipper." Ashley said with a nod. Shepard nodded back as she smiled at her former squad member. "It's good to have someone who'll help out, thanks Ash. I wont forget this." Ashley smiled at her old Commander as she sighed and shook her head once. "You sure have a way of pulling me into Hell, Commander." Ashley joked. Shepard could only laugh at the remark.

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Ok sorry not as ass kicky as I wanted, but I don't want to just skip around and miss out on stuff. Next chapter though, I swear we'll start fighting them Reapers! RAWR -charges off-