Reaper Threat v2
Chapter 22
Tuchanka: Clan Urdnot: Chambers of Urdnot Wrex
"So Maelon was working on a cure," the Krogan chieftain asked of the voice over his comm system, "And the Salarians have the females that he was using for guinea pigs?"
"Yes," the voice replied quickly, "Females very fragile, weak immune systems. Being kept on Sur'kesh for treatment. Right now, working on getting them brought to citadel, where will have better chance of survival, plus, need assistance from one other to stabilize."
"Who could help you?"
"The shinobi at Huerta Memorial Hospital," the voice answered, "Sakura Haruno."
"Who would have the pull to get them brought there?"
"Spectre, maybe. Council, of course. Not many options that will get attention of Salarian Dalatrass. Urge contact with Human Alliance, and Shinobi. Will be most helpful."
"If we need a Spectre's authority," Wrex notes, "I know just the one to call, if she's available."
Arcturus Station: Offices of Admiral Stephen Hackett
One month had passed since the Normandy came in for refit. The Commander Fifth Fleet looked over the status reports, which looked promising. So far all the changes to the ship were progressing ahead of schedule, and it should only be another few days before the Alliance's most advanced frigate was ready to set out again. Hackett looked up when his door chimed that someone was requesting entrance.
"Enter," he stated, as the door opened to present Councilor David Anderson, "Have you seen the reports that have come out of Alliance Intel regarding Udina?"
"Yes, I have," Anderson answered, "And I've had him under surveillance by a Salarian Spectre operative named Jondum Bau. I think he's trying to get something started, but we can't quite figure out what, at this point in time. He's reached out to several high level financiers of Cerberus operations over the years, as well as the Terra Firma Party."
"Think he's trying to become a new Illusive Man?"
"It's possible," Anderson stated, "But with all that's going on, and with the entire galaxy on heightened alert with the Reapers coming soon, I highly doubt he'll try to make a bid for power. At least not right now. He may try something at a later date, but for now, I urge we just keep an eye on him. He's already off the Alliance's ambassadorial staff on the Citadel, and I'm trying to figure out who to name to Humanity's spot on the council, to replace me."
"Replace you?" This news shocked Hackett, slightly.
"I find myself wanting to come back to military life," the Councilor explained, "I want to be in the thick of things when the Reapers hit, and I can't do that from an office on the Presidium."
"Then figure it out quickly," Hackett advises, "Because we could use you when things go to hell. Shepard's already back in command of the Normandy, and we're about to put them back into action in just a few days." Just then, his comm beeped, and he hit the button, "Go for Hackett, and you're also on with Councilor Anderson."
"Admiral, we have several priority comms coming from Palaven, Tuchanka, and Sur'kesh."
"The Turians, Krogan and Salarians?" Anderson noted, "This should prove interesting. What are they wanting?"
"A war summit, on neutral ground. They want it to be on the Normandy."
"Get me Shepard," Hackett ordered, and was soon joined in the conversation by, "Go for Shepard."
"Shepard, this is Admiral Hackett and Councilor Anderson. The Turians, Krogan, and Salarians want to talk war preps for the coming conflict, and want it on your ship."
"They think the Alliance will be a neutral party in the talks," Alexa J. Shepard mused, "Wrex already contacted me and told me what's going on. Truth be told, Admiral, we'll need all the muscle we can get, and the Krogan are a hell of a lot of muscle."
"I'll be coming with you on this one, Captain," Anderson stated, "Things could get hairy, and having a Councilor in on the whole thing could help."
"You're welcome aboard, Anderson," Shepard stated, "We should be finished with the refits in just a few days. We're ahead of schedule, thanks to some inspired work by our engineers, and the new members of our crew."
Shinobi Homeworld – Konoha – Uchiha district – Shrine.
Sasuke Uchiha stood in front of the stone at his clan's former meeting place. He activated his sharingan, and started to read. He took note of the locations mentioned in the ancient text, as well as copying the entire thing for the Five Kage, the Alliance, and the Citadel Council. This is where he starts to atone for all he had done prior to the Fourth Great Ninja War, and he would do it, by making sure that every race survived the coming Reaper invasion.
"I figured I'd find you here," came a voice behind Sasuke, "I saw your shuttle land on the outskirts." The Uchiha turned around to see Tsunade standing there. "Congratulations on becoming a Spectre," the blonde hokage said with a smile, "You're representing our people well out there."
"Right now, I'm trying to find out more about the Sage of Six Paths," Sasuke informed her, "We have information that he had help from a Prothean to create the chakra system and ninjutsu. We're trying to find out more and see if this Prothean left behind something we can work with to stop the Reapers."
"Well, let's combine what the Uchiha know with what the Senju have, and we can see what we come up with."
"The Senju and Uchiha are both descended from the Sage, so maybe we can find something before everything goes to hell." Sasuke and Tsunade leave the Uchiha meeting place, headed to the Hokage's mansion.
SSV Normandy SR-2 – Athion Cluster
A few days more had passed, and the Normandy was now docked with an empty, largely unused space dock. Also docked there are a Salarian and a Turian cruiser.
"Looks like all the players are here," Joker noted to Naruto, who was standing over his shoulder, "I'll bet Wrex called for this thing."
"Wouldn't doubt it," Uzumaki thought out loud, "the Krogan would be a major asset to this alliance." He then punched a button on the station in front of him, "Alexa, we're docked, and all the players are about to come aboard."
"Be right there," came Shepard's voice, with obvious sounds of severe fatigue coming through.
"She sounded tired," EDI observed, "Has she not been sleeping well lately?"
"The visions from the Eden Prime beacon," Naruto answered, "She said they've been giving her fits for the past 2 days. Truth be told, it's starting to worry me."
"I'll talk to Dr. Chakwas after we get this meeting over with," Shepard told her lover and 2nd in command, "Right now, we've got a job to do."
"The 3 dignitaries are requesting permission to come aboard," this came from EDI.
"Permission granted, EDI. Naruto, show them to the conference room, and I'll be along shortly with Anderson."
Naruto walked off the bridge and to the airlock. He gave the dignitaries a salute before greeting them with, "Welcome aboard the SSV Normandy. I'm XO Uzumaki. Captain Shepard will be along in just a few minutes."
"Good to see you again, Naruto," Wrex stated, "You and that huge fox still kicking ass?" The Krogan chieftain extended his hand to Naruto.
The shinobi gave Wrex's hand a strong shake, before replying, "We're just trying to get the galaxy ready for the Reapers right now."
"Looks like military life suits you, Naruto," said another, familiar voice. Naruto looked and saw Garrus Vakarian in the Turian party.
"We can talk in a bit, Garrus, right now, everyone, follow me." Naruto leads the diplomatic group through the C.I.C., to the conference room.
Ten Minutes Later
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Shepard stated as she entered the room with Councilor Anderson, "We were needed on an urgent call. Anyway, Wrex, you and Primarch Fedorian called for this meeting, so, what's on your minds?"
"The Krogan want to be part of this Alliance, Shepard," Wrex stated, "I talked to Garrus about it, and he brought in the Primarch."
"Vakarian showed me everything from your fight with the Collectors," Fedorian added, "If THAT was what their thralls were capable of, there's no telling the destruction that the actual Reapers can create all over the galaxy. Wrex and I discussed it at length, and agreed, we need the Krogan."
"I still don't see how this affects me," the Salarian Dalatrass added.
"Because your Special Tasks Group is holding several Krogan females on Sur'Kesh," Wrex stated, forcefully pointing a beefy finger at the Dalatrass, "They were guinea pigs for a Salarian scientist named Maelon to experiment at curing the Genophage. Turns out, he got close. Very close."
"How did you find out?" the Dalatrass inquired.
"I have my sources," Wrex shot back, "My people need a cure for the Genophage. It'll help us be ready for, as well as possibly survive the coming Reaper war."
"Besides," Fedorian interjected, "It's gone on long enough."
"I take it you want these females brought to Tuchanka?" Anderson asked of Wrex.
"No, the Citadel. Huerta Memorial Hospital, to be exact," Wrex informed the group, "The females have weakened immune systems, thanks to Maelon's experimentation. My source added that it's possible to come up with a cure, but only if we can stabilize said immune systems. That's why I want him to work with Sakura Haruno at Huerta to come up with this cure."
"Sakura could help bolster their immune systems," Shepard noted, "She did it for a Tali', our Quarian friend, already."
"If the Krogan get this cure for the Genophage," the Dalatrass began, only to be cut off by Naruto.
"EDI, bring up all footage of Horizon," the shinobi stated, "And put it on screen here in the conference room."
When the footage began on the screens, Shepard pointed and addressed the Dalatrass, "THIS is what the Collectors were capable of, and they were just thralls of the Reapers," she prefaced her statements, "Take that into account, as well as the damage done at the Battle of the Citadel, and Sovereign was just ONE Reaper. Imagine this, plus a whole FLEET of reapers attacking every advanced race in the galaxy. Like it or not, Dalatrass, we need the Krogan, and we need them at full strength. That means curing the Genophage."
"I will have my Special Tasks Group ready the Krogan females for transport to the Citadel," the Dalatrass stated.
"Shepard, I'd consider it a favor if you'd transport the females to the Citadel on the Normandy," Wrex said to his long-time friend.
"We can make that trip," Shepard replied, "Want us to pick up Sakura on the way?"
"The sooner we get to work, the better off we'll be," the Fedorian added, "In the meantime, Wrex, can we count on Krogan assistance, when the fighting starts?"
"We'll offer our support, but we need that cure."
"You'll have it, Wrex," Shepard advised, "Now, if that's all, then we've all got preparations to make. Naruto, can you show Primarch Fedorian and the Dalatrass to the airlock?"
"Of course. This way, please?" Naruto lead the group out, at which time Garrus stated, "Is it just me, or is Shepard looking a little worn down?"
"The Eden Prime visions are coming back," Naruto informed their friend, "She's not been sleeping well these past couple of nights. She said she'd see Dr. Chakwas when this meeting was over."
"Well, keep in touch," Vakarian said, "We'll possibly have more to share before the Reapers get here."
"Will do, Garrus," Naruto replied, "Stay safe, Man."
"You too."
Thessia – Shrine of the Goddess Athame
Liara T'Soni stood in the middle of the Temple of Athame. She had been here numerous times during her childhood with her mother, but now, something was different. She was hearing whispers all around her. She walked up to the central statue of the Goddess, and reached out a hand. Suddenly, a crack appeared in the statue, which showed a green light, and the whispers in Liara's mind intensified.
"I must have absorbed the Prothean Cypher when I joined with Shepard after Feros," she thought, as she further inspected the multiple other relics around the temple.
Normandy SR-2: Bridge
"The Turian Primarch has given us his word that he and Garrus will see to it that the Krogan females get to the Citadel from Sur'Kesh," Naruto told Shepard as she came out of the lift, "Have you seen Dr. Chakwas?"
"She said that it may be useful to go back to Eden Prime," the Captain answered, "She thinks that maybe we could find out what's effecting the visions, if we check where we found the Beacon again."
"I'll set a course," Joker responded, "We should be there in 3 hours."
"Go see if you can get some rest, Alexa," Naruto told her, "I can handle things till we get there, and I'll wake you when we're in orbit over Eden Prime."
"Thanks, Naruto," She smiled, "I'll do that." She then turned and walked out of the bridge, and into the lift, leaving Naruto with a concerned look on his face, but with slight hope.
End Chapter 22
Next is the final setup chapter leading into Mass Effect 3. With Liara investigating Thessia, and Sasuke on the Shinobi Home World, things are looking up, but what will Shepard and Naruto find on Eden Prime? Find out soon.
Coming Soon: Chapter 23.