A week had gone by since Hannah insisted Keta get her back to the Alliance fleets. All avenues of inquiry had failed to discover where the fleets were stationed, leading Hannah to believe something big was in the works. Hannah finally decided her best bet was to head for the Citadel. Even though it had been attacked by Cerberus, it was still the hub of information for the entire galaxy.

Now, as Hannah stood outside the docking bay, she was saddened by the Citadel's changes. There was rubble everywhere and refugees by the hundreds. They were from multiple races and easy to pick out with their hollow eyes, confused and bewildered, not knowing where to go or what to do. Many of them had lost not only their homes, but their families and friends.

Hannah peered at Toureau out of the corner of her eye. She'd continued to keep her face covered with bandages, even though she'd been declared healthy by Riley. Of course, Hannah knew it wasn't the illusion of pain that kept the bandages on; it was Toureau's fear of how others' would react to her features. So far the young woman had only allowed medical personnel to see what lay underneath her covering. She'd also been sensitive about her hair as it was growing at a slow pace, now looking like she'd spiked it with hairspray. Despite her desire not to be seen by others, she had asked to accompany Hannah onto the station, hoping to learn the fate of her parents.

Toureau stared at the refugees, clearly distressed. "I'm just like them," she murmured. "Homeless. No family left."

Hannah tried to smile encouragingly. "How about we find the ambassador and ask to see casualty lists? Don't assume yet."

Toureau nodded, but her grim face didn't change its expression. They walked on, passing through the docking area and then security. Hannah headed to the ambassador's office. When she got there, the door was locked. She pushed the panel several times, but to no avail.

"Can I help you?" a voice asked.

Hannah turned to see a nice looking dark haired man in a gray suit. He had a gentle tone and Hannah felt she could trust him. "I need to see the ambassador."

The man sighed. "No one's replaced Udina yet. The Alliance has pretty much abandoned the humans on the Citadel. I keep trying to get help for our refugees, but no one seems to care."

Hannah found herself replying harshly, defensive of the navy she'd devoted her life to. "They're kind of busy at the moment, wouldn't you say?"

The man held up both his hands to show he meant no ill will. "I understand, but it makes helping anyone here all the harder. I do what I can."

"And you are…"

The man held out a hand to Hannah and she shook it. "Ambassador Osoba."

"Maybe you can help me."

"What do you need?"

Hannah looked around. "Maybe we should talk in private."

"Ma'am?"

Hannah turned to Toureau. "Yes?"

"I don't think I'm going to find casualty lists here," she said, her eyes downcast.

"Casualty lists?" Osoba echoed. "They have a wall down in the refugee docks for people to post about those who've perished. That'd be your best bet."

"May I…"

Hannah nodded. "Of course. I'll come find you when I'm done here."

"Yes, ma'am." Toureau dragged her feet back towards the elevator, in no hurry to face the possibility of unwelcome news.

Osoba gestured down the hall and Hannah followed as he rounded a corner. He sat down on a couple leather seats. Hannah joined him.

"So, you look a little familiar. Have we met before?" Osoba asked.

"No," Hannah said.

"Well, who are you and what can I do for you?"

"I'm Captain Hannah Shepard. My ship was destroyed at Arcturus and I'm trying to find the fleets."

"Shepard?" Osoba asked, putting his hand to his head in amazement. "You're related to the Shepard?"

Hannah smiled slightly. "I'm the Shepard's mother."

"Well, I'll be…That's why you look familiar to me. I met your daughter."

"When?" Hannah asked, sitting up straighter, Osoba having gained her rapt attention.

"A few weeks back. She found my son's dog tags and brought them to me. He…passed on."

"Oh," Hannah said, observing the pain that appeared in the ambassador's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Thanks," Osoba said, brushing a quick hand over misty eyes. "I owe your daughter one. Maybe I can pay up by helping you out. You want to find the fleets?"

Hannah nodded.

"I don't know where they are, but I can get you in contact with someone who does. Follow me."

Osoba stood and Hannah walked behind him. He passed through some double doors, then down a hall and finally entered a tiny office. He strode over to his desk, sat down and tapped a few keys. He looked up at Hannah apologetically. "Ever since the Cerberus attack, communication's been slow. Just give me a few minutes."

Hannah nodded and paced back and forth, trying to wait patiently. After several minutes, she heard a voice she knew well. "Hackett here."

"Admiral, it's Ambassador Osoba on the Citadel."

"Ambassador."

"I know we're not supposed to use the secure channel except in emergencies, but I thought you wouldn't mind me contacting you."

"This better be worth it."

"I think so. Here, I have someone who wants to talk to you."

Osoba stood up and gestured to his chair. Hannah sat down and smiled grimly at Steven Hackett's familiar face staring back at her from the screen. "Hello, Steven."

"Hannah!" Steven exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock. "When the Orizaba didn't show up, we assumed you got left behind, been captured or destroyed."

"Did you tell Jane…"

"No, no. I waited. I didn't want to tell her you were MIA. She's got too much on her plate right now."

"Thank goodness."

"I'll be. Hannah Shepard, you're as tough as nails. I can't believe you made it out alive. What about your crew? Your ship?"

Hannah swallowed hard. "As far as I know, Commander Toureau and I are the only survivors."

Steven's brow creased. "I'm sorry. Sorry you had to lose them like that."

"From what I gather, everyone is losing someone these days."

"That's true," Steven said, his voice now deep and sad. "Most of the galaxy's in chaos. No one really knows who's alive and who's dead. We're clinging to hope and it's all riding on your daughter."

"Where is Jane?" Steven gave her a knowing look and Hannah sighed. "Secret mission."

Steven nodded.

"If you talk to her again, tell her I'm okay and I'm more proud of her then ever."

"Will do."

"Steven, I want to get back to the fleets. I want to personally destroy every Reaper out there till there's none left."

Steven smiled slowly. "That sounds like the Hannah Shepard I've known the last two years." Steven looked down and Hannah heard the sound of tapping. "I'm sending coordinates. These are confidential. If these got out, we'd lose the only hope we have to win this war."

"I understand."

"Save them, follow them and get here as fast as you can. We could have used you yesterday."

"I'll be there ASAP."

Steven suddenly saluted her, a gesture she always gave him first. "Glad to have you back, Captain."

Hannah returned the salute. "Glad to be back, sir."

"Hackett out."

The screen went blank. Osoba walked back to his desk. "Let me link to your omni-tool." Hannah flicked on the omni-tool Keta had loaned her. Osoba transferred the file with the coordinates over to her omni-tool. "Got them?" Hannah nodded and Osoba erased the file from his own computer.

"Thank you," Hannah said, standing up from his chair.

"No problem. It was my pleasure to help Commander Shepard's mother."

Hannah shook hands again with the ambassador, then left the room, determined to find Toureau and get back to the Menari as fast as possible.

Hannah stepped out of the elevator into the refugee docks. The area was crowded with beings from multiple races, some in lines making inquiries, most sitting around doing nothing but chit chatting quietly. She saw a group gathered around a wall with hundreds of notes pinned to it, as well as pictures. She strolled over, thinking she'd find Toureau here. She didn't see the young woman, but she also didn't move on quickly. She found herself captivated by the wall, staring at the photos of all the races that dotted it. She scanned the notes as well. Most of them she couldn't read as they were in alien tongues, but many of them were human in origin and afforded her a glimpse into the mourning of the galaxy. There were poems, prayers, letters of regret and pleas for forgiveness. The more Hannah read, the angrier she got. Who were these Reapers? Did they have any shred of decency within them at all? Or were they mindless drones with only a will to kill?

Hannah turned on her heel, stalking through the docks, looking for Toureau, not willing to waste any more time on the Citadel. The area was a maze of crates, waiting areas and make-shift hovels. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, Hannah assumed Toureau must have gone back to the embassies to find her. She was about to turn and give up, but peeked down one more "hallway," really a lane created by two crate walls. She spied Toureau standing with her back to her at the end of the hall.

"Toureau!" she called out. The girl didn't turn. Hannah walked towards her, slowing her gait when she realized the girl was talking. However, there was no one with her. Maybe she was praying? Hannah didn't want to disturb her, but they needed to get off the station as soon as they could. Hannah paused to listen for a moment. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. The girl wasn't praying, but what was she doing?

"I don't want to do it," Hannah heard Toureau's soft voice. The young woman paused and tilted her head as if listening to someone answer her, then she spoke again. "No, I can't. But it's the only choice I have left…Yes, it can save us. I know it can…Don't tell me that!...Give me time, I can find a way."

Hannah walked close to the girl and put a hand on her shoulder. Toureau jumped and turned, eyes startled and also, for a moment, distant. "Are you alright?"

"I, uh, I…" Toureau stammered. She shook her head as if to clear cob webs from her brain. "Uh, yeah." She gazed around her. "What am I doing here?"

"You were standing here, talking to yourself." Hannah's eyes narrowed. "Commander, how have you been feeling?"

Toureau looked sheepishly at Hannah. "Well, my headache still hasn't gone away," she admitted.

"Let's get back to the Menari," Hannah demanded. "I want to get to the fleets and you need to visit Riley again."

Hannah stood next to Keta on the bridge of the Menari as it sailed through the relay.

"We'll reach the coordinates in a few minutes, boss," the pilot reported, an asari with purplish skin.

"When we get near them, wait so Hannah can send a message."

"Got it."

The ship flew farther in system, passing a large star in the process. When they moved beyond the star and Hannah could see what was on the other side, she sucked in a breath. Keta whistled. They hadn't found just the Alliance fleets—they'd stumbled into a galaxy armada. There were ships from all the races, each positioned with their own fleets: turians, asari, salarians, krogans, geth, quarians, even drell and elcor.

"Batarians," Keta breathed out. Hannah blinked, marveling. Yes, one whole section had become the parking lot of at least twenty batarian ships. There were also several ships of designs she didn't even recognize.

"They know they've got to work together. It's their only hope," Hannah whispered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Keta put her hand protectively over her belly.

Hannah flipped on her omni-tool, connecting to Steven's signal. She put her hand to her ear. "Admiral, this is Captain Shepard."

"Welcome. Letting the boys know your ship can come in. Who are you with?"

"I'd like to explain that in person."

"Fine. I gave you the coordinates of my ship. I'll see you there. Hackett out."

"Just follow the coordinates," Hannah said. The pilot flew on, through the amassed fleets. As they drew close to the coordinates, something large and under construction came into view. It was round and small ships surrounded it, moving here and there, using robotic arms to move steel beams into place.

"What is it?" Keta asked.

Hannah shrugged. "A weapon? A bomb? We'll find out."

The pilot zoomed past the circular object that dwarfed the Menari. Hannah recognized Steven's ship as it came into view. The pilot pulled alongside, asked for landing clearance and received it. Hannah walked with Keta to the hangar bay. When they reached the shuttle, Lucas was already there, waiting for them.

"I guess this is good-bye," he said, holding out a friendly hand to Hannah.

Hannah was about to respond when Keta interrupted. "Not yet. I'm going over with her."

"Huh?" Lucas asked, eyes confused.

"I want to know what they're up to."

Lucas stared at her. He reached out his hand and placed his palm on her belly. "We can protect her."

Keta put her own hand over Lucas'. "This might be the only way. I'm going. You can stay here or come with us." She squeezed Lucas' hand, then climbed into the shuttle.

Hannah said nothing, ignoring Lucas and his conflicted look as she boarded the shuttle. She heard movement behind her.

"I'm coming," Lucas' disgruntled voice grumbled out.

When the shuttle docked, Hannah was greeted by a young soldier in a freshly pressed uniform. She recognized the type: newly joined the Alliance, assigned as an assistant to Hackett.

"Captain, ma'am!" the young man addressed Hannah, saluting. "If you'll follow me, ma'am."

"Lead the way," Hannah instructed, smiling at the eagerness of youth. Did she really act like that at one time? Age, she thought, had a way of mellowing you, toning down your idealism with wisdom.

Hannah, Keta and Lucas followed the young man to a small office. He touched a panel and spoke sharply. "Captain Shepard and friends, sir."

"You may go, Keweiki," Steven's voice replied.

"Yes, sir!"

The door opened as the young man marched away. Hannah stepped inside to see Steven standing, moving from behind his desk to greet her. He held out his hand and Hannah shook it. His grip was firm and enthusiastic. "To tell you the truth, you're a sight for sore eyes."

"You, too," Hannah answered, glad to be back in the company of a friend she knew so well.

Steven's eyes moved to those standing behind her and suddenly grew hard. "So, you found our prisoner."

Hannah glanced back at Lucas' guilty and apprehensive face. "You don't need to worry about him anymore."

"Not that I have the time or inclination to do so now anyway," Steven ground out. "Have a seat."

Hannah sat down in a chair as Lucas and Keta followed suit. Steven sat down behind his desk, eyeing Lucas and Keta warily. "I assume, since you brought them along, I can speak freely with them here."

"They aren't going to betray us, I'm sure of that."

"Hum," Steven intoned, his gaze still critical of Lucas.

"Sir," Lucas said. "You can trust me. I'm sorry for what I did."

"It's fortunate for you, Commander, that I care more about defeating the Reapers than filling my brig."

"Yes, sir," Lucas agreed humbly.

Steven turned his attention to Hannah and spoke to her. "Did you see our project?"

Hannah nodded. "The round thing."

Steven nodded. "We're calling it the Crucible. We think it's a super weapon that can defeat the Reapers. We found the design in Prothean archives. We're putting all our resources into it and gathering any help we can. When we deploy it, we've got to be prepared for resistance. We need this to work. From our calculations, the Reapers will own the entire galaxy in little over a week. They've stepped up their attacks in recent days."

"What can I do to help?" Hannah questioned, her heart quickening as she readied herself to be part of the action again.

"First things first," Steven said, fixing her with a small smile. "We've lost a lot of people and since I'm in charge, I've decided to promote you to Rear Admiral. You can't argue me out of it, so don't try."

Hannah nodded once, accepting her promotion and remembering her refusal to let the Alliance brass make her an admiral. "Okay, but what else?"

"We're dividing our forces into three groups: Hammer, Sword and Shield. Hammer is composed of all marines from our various armies. Sword is our space navy. Shield will protect the Crucible when we deploy it. I want you to plan the logistics for Shield, organize the ships, prepare them for defense. And when we go in, I want you to command them."

Hannah inhaled deeply. "I'll give you everything I've got."

"I never expect less, Admiral," Steven said, his blue eyes dancing for just a moment. He turned his penetrating gaze to Lucas. "And although I'm not exactly happy with you, the truth is we could use more technical experts. We have a place for you if you'll take it."

Lucas' eyes flicked to Keta. "I'm going to have to decli…"

"He'll do it," Keta blurted out.

"But…"

Keta reached over and took Lucas' hand, her four eyes focusing on his two. "We've been kidding ourselves. There won't be a galaxy left to live in if this doesn't work. We're staying. Do this for me."

Lucas's lips grew taut in a forced smile. "For you." He looked to Hackett. "Show me what I can do."

After a bit more discussion determining who went where, it was finally decided that for the time being, Hannah would make the Menari her "office." Lucas was shuttled to another ship with the technical analysts, promising he'd be back before dinner time. Keta offered her aid to Hannah in whatever capacity she needed her. Currently they sat next to each other in Keta's room, both tapping away on data pads and omni-tools, reading up on the Crucible and the number of ships that had joined the fleets. Hannah paused a moment to peruse an e-mail just sent by Steven.

Hannah, I wanted you to know I contacted Jane, told her you were alive and proud of her. She's been the backbone of this whole operation. Without her, we wouldn't even have a chance. Steven.

Hannah looked next to her at Keta, sitting quietly, all eyes intent on her data pad, a hand absentmindedly on her belly, rubbing it with a circular motion. Hannah thought back to when humanity had first met the turians, how she'd been scared for Jane. At times during the conflict, she'd envisioned these monstrous aliens charging onto Mythos intent on destruction. She couldn't imagine what it must be like now, facing an enemy far more powerful than turians, knowing that you might not live another day and your child could be crushed before it ever drew breath.

"Keta, why did you decide to become a mother now?" Hannah asked quietly, her thoughts shaped into words.

Keta flicked her eyes to Hannah. "You mean why when I could so easily die in the next week?"

Hannah nodded, impressed with Keta's candor.

Keta actually chuckled. "It was a whim really." She paused for such a long time, Hannah thought she wasn't going to elaborate, but she finally went on. "After rescuing Lucas, we, uh, were enjoying each other's company and we got talking about how things might have been if we'd been a family. Lucas lamented his age, his messed up relationship with his son, how he wished he'd had another opportunity to be a good father. Well, I thought, 'Why wait?' I mean, look what happened to the Bahak system. You wait around and you lose your chance. I was still fertile and it was possible. I guess I got caught up in the moment."

"Would you have waited if you knew the Reapers would be here this soon?"

Keta sighed. "Maybe. Maybe not. If I'd waited, I'd have more credits now for resources. Paying for impregnation isn't cheap nowadays, especially in batarian space."

"So...you went to a sperm bank?" Hannah inquired. Keta stopped tapping on her data pad, placed it on the table in front of her and rubbed her hands together, clearly uncomfortable. Hannah sensed she'd moved into private territory. "Sorry. It's a personal question, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's okay," Keta insisted. "It's just, most batarians aren't exactly okay with the idea. To them, a child is only valued if she's been conceived…normally. But, of course, with Lucas and me, we had no choice. Luckily, the odd rogue batarian is willing to sell his genetic material if the price is right." Keta's face grew worried all of a sudden and she stared into the distance.

Hannah reached out to touch her shoulder. Keta didn't jerk away as she had two years ago. Hannah guessed being affectionate with Lucas had changed the batarian. "It'll be alright. She'll be okay."

"Hum?" Keta said, pulling out of her reverie. "Oh, yes. I assume that. Most batarians are dead. We're a homeless race now. I don't think we'll have time for petty prejudices with one another."

"Then what's bothering you?"

Keta sighed and turned to face Hannah fully. "If I tell you, you can't tell Lucas."

"We aren't exactly on conspiratorial terms. I'm not going to say anything to him."

"I just…" Keta took a deep breath. "I worry Lucas won't be able to accept her. She won't really be his."

"He wasn't part of the process?"

"He was. He encouraged me. Went with me every step of the way. But…how can I be sure he'll really love her when she's born? I want her to experience what I didn't, a mother and a father who actually love her."

Hannah smiled gently, recognizing the fears of new motherhood in her friend's worries. "He'll love her because she's part of you. I've watched the way he looks at you, touches your belly, speaks to it. My husband acted the same way when I was pregnant with Jane. Trust me. He's all in."

Keta nodded and smiled gratefully. "Thank you." She seemed relieved, but a sudden frown pulled the edges of her mouth downward again. "Will he be 'in' even when she cries half the night and he can't sleep?" Keta asked warily.

Hannah laughed. "At that point, pretty much every parent doesn't enjoy it."

"Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into," Keta mumbled.

Hannah smiled broadly. "There will be hard times, but, from someone who's farther down the line, it's worth it."

"You have every reason to be proud," Keta asserted. "You've raised a woman who's saving the galaxy. I can only hope I'm half the mother you've been."

Hannah smiled, thinking back to Jane's childhood. "Motherhood is something you just…do. You muddle through it, try to do your best, love your child and pray it all turns out right in the end."

Keta nodded thoughtfully, turning her eyes back to her data pad. "Balak's here."

"In the fleets?" Hannah asked, surprise passing over her face.

"I have half a mind to take Lucas over to his ship in the shuttle and let him carry out all the threats he's made towards Balak over the last couple years."

"Lucas knows about…"

"He knows everything," Keta said. "I don't keep secrets from him."

Hannah shook her head in wonder. "Honestly, it's a little weird you and Lucas together. I mean, you hated each other right off."

Keta mused. "Broken people tend to find each other, I think." She looked back to her data pad. "How do you want to use the batarian fleets?"

Hannah switched her own data pad back to the list of ships currently in-system. "What can they do best?"

As Keta elaborated on batarian combat, Hannah only half-heard her. She was thinking about Keta's idea that broken people found each other. Not only did they find each other, Hannah thought, they also mended each other, too.

Hannah spent weeks planning, strategizing and meeting with admirals and captains of the Shield fleet. Keta was invaluable, lending her own sharp mind to the process. Years of finding her own way in the galaxy had created in her a unique ability to think outside the box. Hannah came to believe that Keta would have made a good Alliance captain if she'd been human.

Lucas worked directly on the Crucible and concluded that it was not a weapon in any conventional sense. The architects didn't even know exactly what it did, just that the Protheans considered it their last line of defense in the previous Reaper war. Whatever it was, Hannah hoped it would end the Reapers once and for all. Lucas also said it was missing a large component and that any day now, Hackett promised they'd know what that was. Hannah prayed they found it before it was too late.

Currently, Hannah was lying on her bunk, crashed out after a long day of meetings. She'd just closed her eyes when Lucas came barreling through the door. "Hackett wants you immediately."

Hannah opened her eyes unwillingly, standing up and walking in place next to Lucas as they headed for the bridge and communications. "Is this it?"

"I don't know," Lucas replied, his voice tense.

When they made it to the bridge, Hannah marched over to Toureau. "Connect me."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Shepard here."

"It's time," Hackett's voice reported, full of authority. "We've been informed the Crucible needs the Citadel to be complete."

"The Citadel?"

"I know. You think that's hard to swallow, the Citadel is now in the Sol system near Earth."

"How?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. The point is, the Reapers now know we've got the Crucible. When we head to Earth, they'll be ready for us."

Hannah felt her chest rise and fall rapidly.

"The Normandy will meet up with us on the way. It's going to join Sword. We'll move in, Sword punching a hole so Hammer can get on the ground. Shield will hold back, waiting to move the Crucible into position."

"Understood."

"Your fleets are vital to this mission, Admiral. The Crucible is all we have left at this point."

"We won't fail."

"You can't. We move out in ten minutes. Hackett out."

Hannah turned and found half of Keta's crew standing there, staring at her. She stood up straight and tall, her naval training taking over. "They're ready for us. We're going to fall behind Sword and Hammer and protect the Crucible at all costs."

Lucas, who was standing next to Keta, put his arm around her waist and drew her into him. Hannah swallowed hard. She didn't want to see Keta die before she became a mother. "If anyone wants to leave, this is the time," she said, giving Keta the opportunity to pull out.

"I'm committed as is my crew," Keta affirmed, putting her own arm around Lucas' waist. "We aren't letting the Reapers take what's left of our people." Keta's statement was echoed in murmurs of assent that came from her crew, human, asari, krogan, salarian and batarian alike.

"Let's send 'em back to the hell they came from!" Thad shouted out, fist punching the air. Everyone verbally agreed and several other crew members shouted out as well.

Hannah nodded, skimming the resolute faces in front of her. "Then let's get to it."