Reaper Threat v2

Chapter 21

Arcturus Station: Exodus Cluster: Office of Fleet Admiral Steven Hackett.

Only a week had passed since the defeat of the criminal splinter group known as Cerberus. Since then, the Normandy had been in port for refit, while Shepard helped Naruto get acclimated to procedures within the Systems Alliance. Now, the two commanding officers of the Normandy are discussing the findings from the raid on Cerberus's Chronos station with Commander Fifth Fleet.

"You wouldn't believe the information we've found," Hackett prefaced his statement, "plans for new fighters, mechs, armor suits, weapons, new classes of capital ships. R&D has their hands full right now. So much so that they're sending some of the designs to private contractors to go through. Armor designs are going to Hahne-Kedar, while Kassa Fabrication is handling the weapons.

"How long is the Normandy going to be in refit?" Shepard inquired, obviously curious.

"About another month and a half," Hackett answered, "And don't think we didn't see right through EDI's transparent 'VI' cover story. We're not raising an issue about it, because, with EDI, the Normandy is even more useful as a scout/recon ship, and will be extremely useful in the coming Reaper war. By the way, our techs have noticed that Joker's 'accessibility mech', and EDI have a similar voice. What's the story, Shepard."

"When we took down Cerberus operation: Overlord, we found the mech being stored away until Cerberus completed the AI that was to be installed in it," Shepard explained, "We commandeered the mech, and EDI put it to use as a body. She was useful in the raid on Chronos station."

"Wait, EDI was on the team with Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke?"

"She sure was," Naruto interceded, "She can hack anything in half the time it takes a human, and react creatively to new situations as needed. She locked Cerberus out of their own security systems."

"You'd have to ask EDI how it all works, but she's able to join in on away missions, and still operate the defensive and cyber warfare suites on the Normandy at the same time, and suffer no slowdowns from it. She's a valuable part of the Normandy crew."

"I see," Hackett noted, pushing the reading glasses back up his nose, "Alright, Captain. For the next month, you and Mr. Uzumaki are on leave. I just thought you may want to know that your mother's ship is coming into dock in about 3 hours. Lieutenant Williams and Joker can oversee the refit of Normandy. Any idea where you may go?"

"We had thought of taking a shuttle to Earth," Shepard replied, "There's a few places on Earth I'd love to show Naruto."

"Such as?" This question came from Naruto

"Vancouver for a week, then Hawaii," answered Shepard, "Vancouver to show him Alliance Command, And Hawaii because that's where Mom, Dad and I used to take their leaves when I was growing up."

"I knew your Mom is fleet. What about your father?" Hackett inquired.

"Marine, made N5 before he died at Mindoir. We kept a place on the island of Oahu, and if I know Mom, it's been kept up."

Arcutus Dry Dock – SSV Normandy SR-2 - Bridge

"The refit crews are starting to come aboard," EDI stated to Joker, "Daniels and Donnelly are going to have to get this new engineer, Adams, up to speed."

"Adams?" Joker asked, "He was the chief engineer on the SR-1. Anyone else coming on board?"

"2nd Lieutenant James Vega is coming to oversee the refit of the armory with Lieutenant Williams. Lieutenant Steve Cortez is going to be working on the shuttle bay, and bringing our shuttles up to date, also Specialist Samantha Traynor, a communication specialist, is bringing our comm systems up to date. Luckily, certain members of our former Cerberus crew started out in the Alliance, so they came back to continue serving on the Normandy. After the refits, the new crew will be stationed on the Normandy to replace the Cerberus crew members that left after the raid."

"Vega, Traynor, those names sound familiar."

"We rescued them from the Collector Base," Ashley Williams informed Joker, "It's been a few months since the Collectors. Vega's been promoted up to 2nd Lt, and Traynor's one of the best communications specialists in Alliance R&D."

"I guess we had a bit of an effect on Ms. Traynor," EDI commented, "I wonder what she'll bring to the table when we get started?"

"No telling, EDI," Joker stated, "But we should make sure that no one makes any attempts to disable you."

Quarian Migrant Fleet: Liveship Neema: Conference Room of Admiral Tali'Zorah

"You cannot be serious," Admiral Han'Gerrel raged, "You want to make peace with the Geth, after they drove us from our homeworld? What would Rael'Zorah think about this?"

"My father wanted to get us back onto the home world. This process will accomplish that. I've had a chance to work with a Geth, and know more about them than you ever will," Tali'Zorah vas Normandy stated, matter-of-factly, to her fellow Admirals, "You, Han'Gerrel, only see them as some monster to be conquered. I've had a chance to discuss things at length with the Geth, and we also agree that the Reapers are a threat to, not only organic life, but to Synthetics like the Geth, as well."

"And this is a threat we have to face together," Shala'Raan vas Tonbay added, "Tali has told me of her idea, and that she has been dealing with the citadel council to get this started. Already, Councilors Tevos and Valern are on their way to help broker a peace between our two peoples. There is a Geth named 'Legion' coming with them."

"Mostly, the geth exist as Data on networked drives. There could be upwards of billions of Geth programs on one drive. The bodies you know are mobile platforms that Geth will upload their runtimes to when necessary," Tali'Zorah explained, "Legion explained how the Geth can help us get ready for the Reapers. I like this idea, as does Zal'Korris, and Shala'Raan. What say you, then, Daro'Xen, Han'Gerrell? Are you still willing to kill our own people in a blind war with the Geth, or have the Geth as our allies when the Reapers finally get here? The Geth are only a threat in your mind. We know different now. The Reapers are a threat to everyone. The Geth can help us defeat the Reapers."

"I want to see your evidence," Daro'Xen replied, "But seeing what you've already said, I can see the validity of your statements, Tali'Zorah."

"I'll send the files to your office on the Moreh," Tali told her fellow admiral, "And I'll send them to you too, Han'Gerrell. It's time we did this, Admirals. The Reapers are coming, and we have to start getting ready NOW."

Palaven – Turian Primarch's office.

"I just received news," Primarch Fedorian stated to Garrus Vakarian, "that the council is working on a strategy to defeat the Reapers."

"All the council races are," Garrus advised his race's leader, "I'm sure that the Alliance has already talked to you about adding Thanix weapons to their fighters and frigates."

"And they've done what we never thought possible with the technology," Fedorian noted, "They've managed to increase the size of the weapons to make them usable on cruisers and dreadnaughts. They've sent the plans to us, and we're putting them into use now."

Shinobi Home world – Land of Fire – Konoha – Hokage's Conference room.

"Lady Tsunade," Mei Terumi said to her fellow Kage, "I am wondering if we shouldn't consider sending more assistance to the council races. Not just shinobi, but also the Biiju."

"The alliance already has Naruto," Tsunade noted, "He has the Kyuubi. However, I would consider sending the biiju in to assist the council races."

"I could send Bee with Motoi to the citadel and see what the council says," A offers, "With him and the Hachibi together, they could be of assistance to the citadel."

"I'll send word to Gaara," Temari responded.

Citadel – Presidium – Councilor Anderson's office

"Are we able to copy that energy signature?" Councilor Anderson asked of Alliance R&D.

"If we can see the energy first hand, I'm sure we can," the alliance officer answered, "We have to be able to see and analyze it first hand to be able to understand it. What did you say that the shinobi, Uzumaki, called that attack?"

"A Biijudama, loosely translated to 'Tailed Beast Bomb'. It was able to destroy a reaper, and the power comes from his Biiju, Kurama, the nine-tails."

"That kind of firepower could only be fired from a dreadnaught. If we were able to create that kind of weapons to use on the Reapers, they won't have a chance."

"Shepard should be coming to Vancouver with Naruto, on leave. Have Naruto show you the Biijudama, so we can analyze and develop it for use. Also, once you develop that weapon, send news to the other council races."

"Councilor Anderson, Alliance Intelligence is on the line," his secretary advises

"Put them on," Anderson ordered, and then said into his comm, "Go for Anderson."

"Councilor," the intelligence agent began, "We've been going over the information that was sent to us by the strike force that hit Chronos station, and we may have a problem."

"Go ahead."

SSV Orizaba – Captain's private mess

"So, you want to use the house in Hawaii?" Hannah Shepard asked of her daughter, "You and Naruto taking some time off before everything goes to hell."

"We should have a few months before the Reapers get here, and while the galaxy is preparing, I want to take some time for Naruto and I to just be…..us for a while," Alexa explained, "There's not been that much chance while we were fighting collectors, and Cerberus, and Shadow Broker operatives. I remembered the place on Oahu, and decided to go there for the month."

"Then go ahead," the older Captain Shepard smiled, "Enjoy your leave."

It's at this moment that Alexa's and Naruto's omni tools beep. A quick scan showed a request from Alliance Command for them to visit the R&D Offices in Vancouver before they go on vacation.

"They want to see, first hand, the destructive power of the Biijudama?" Naruto asked

"I'm guessing that they're going to try to replicate it to use against the Reapers," Alexa noted, "Think about it, Naruto. There are only 9 biiju, but if we're able to replicate the power of a Biijudama on a ship like a Dreadnaught, then we've got one more weapon to use, and a powerful one at that. The Biijudama did destroy that human reaper hybrid."

"But that reaper was just being built, and we've not gone up against an actual reaper yet. There's no telling what kind of effect it would have on an actual Reaper."

"Oh, I think I know," Kurama said to his container and friend, "I was just going through my memories of our time with the Old Man. He said that our power was made to combat these things, back during our infancy. The Prothean that helped him develop ninjutsu created us, too. The Old Man wanted us to be guardians against the Reapers, not weapons for nations."

"This just got more interesting," Naruto said, taking a swig of his water, "Kurama just told me that the Prothean created the Biiju centuries before meeting the Sage, and helping to develop the Chakra system and ninjutsu."

"How long of a lifespan did Protheans have?" Alexa wondered, "The reapers wiped out the Prothean civilization 50 thousand years ago, and Kurama already said the Biiju were only a few thousand years old."

"Maybe one was in stasis on the home world until it was revived somehow," Hannah speculated, "I'm thinking we need to go back to the shinobi home world and see if we can find out more about this Sage of Six Paths."

"Sasuke's a spectre now," Naruto stated, "If anyone can figure it out, it would be him. The Uchiha had a history of the sage that only their clan could read, using the Sharingan. I could ask him to go and see if he can find out more from it."

"Send the message, Naruto. We need to find out all we can before the Reapers get here," Alexa advised the shinobi. Naruto taps in the message on his omni-tool and then turns back to the two Shepards. Dinner proceeded with lighter conversation for the rest of the time.

End Chapter 21:

Preparations are being made to combat the Reapers. What will happen next?

Find out in Chapter 22 of Reaper Threat v2.