Hello again, everyone, and welcome to the final chapter of my MechWarrior/BattleTech - Mass Effect crossover.
Thank you all for your wonderful support and feedback. Thank you for remaining with me to the very end of this journey. I had a wonderful time writing this story, and I'm very happy to see that all of you had a wonderful time reading it. Your support throughout this entire adventure gave me the motivation to keep on going to the very end. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
In addition to this, I have released the first chapter of the final redux of my MechWarrior/BattleTech - Halo crossover, known as BattleTech: Combat Evolved. That story will be my final redux of my original two stories in that category. I am working with two excellent authors, drakensis and Ulquiorra9000, to make the new redux as rich of a story as I can. I won't be able to cover all of the events in the timeline we're working on, but I will cover as many as I know of.
As always, leave a review, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the MechWarrior/BattleTech or Mass Effect franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of BioWare, Electronic Arts, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs, WizKids, Piranha Games Inc., etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or arists.
Battlefield 1 OST – Dawn Of A New Time
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries OST - Mercenaries
Earth
Citadel – Crucible Junction
October 10th, 2186
For the first time in his life, Shepard knew that he was ready to die. Leaning against the console that would've allowed him to control the Reapers, he could feel his lifeblood slowly seeping out on the ground. The TK70B he'd used to destroy the conduit lay limply in his hand, which was now crusted with blood.
Yet, despite knowing that his death was coming, Shepard felt a kind of freedom. For the first time in my life, I'm free, he thought as his eyelids began to become heavier than usual. For the first time in my life, I'm free. Free to choose my own fate, free to be who I wish to be, free to know that, even if I die, the galaxy will be free.
He smiled, even as a tear ran down his bloodied and scarred cheeks. I have seen aliens that men in the past would've dreamed to meet. I have seen ships on fire at the Battle of the Citadel. I have seen a universe that none thought existed. I have seen what the power of love is able to do. All of those moments, will be lost… in time. Like tears… in… rain.
The only regret that I have is that I will never be able to live to see my children grow up. To see Alexandria and Lisa become wonderful daughters. I wonder what they will be when they grow up. Will they be archaeologists like their mother Liara, or will they warriors like me? Will they have families of their own? Either way, when I die, I will be able to see them grow up. I will be able to find out who my parents were. I will be able to enjoy the life that exists after death.
He was so deep in thought, and his vision had darkened enough that, initially, he thought the shadow that came over him was little more than a hallucination, or perhaps Death come to speak with him one last time. Instead of meeting the comforting darkness that would come with such an eternal sleep, he felt someone picking him up, hands gently sliding underneath his knees and back. When he looked, he saw a face that he never thought he'd see again. "G-Garrus," he whispered.
"Shepard," Garrus replied as he carried his bloody and broken Commander in his arms. Shepard was a mess, with gaping wounds on his body from the conduit's explosion, from punctures in his torso that had exposed damaged organs, to gashes that showed shattered bones beneath. His left leg was nothing more than a bloodied stump below the knee, and he'd lost one of his fingers. "Joker came back with us for you."
"He did?" Shepard asked, nearly too weak to speak. When Garrus nodded, he smiled and said, "I knew he and the rest of you wouldn't leave me here."
"We would never do such a thing in our lives," Garrus agreed. "Rest now, Shepard. I've got you. You're safe now, safe in my arms." With that, Shepard's eyes gently closed, even as he felt his friend carry him in his arms to safety, just as Shepard had done for him once.
. . .
The first thing Shepard heard when he woke up again was the sound of medical equipment quietly sounding off. Opening his eyes, he found that he could see little more than a blur. Blinking them, he watched as his vision slowly swam back into focus. Before long, he could see where he was at.
Looking around, he found that he was in what appeared to be an Intensive Care Unit, with all kinds of doodads and other things strapped to his body. Much of what he could see, of which there was little, was covered in bandages and dressings. Damn, that conduit explosion really fucked me up, he mused. How did I survive that? I guess it just wasn't my time to go yet.
He turned his attention to the ICU that he was in. From what he could tell, it was likely a prefabricated building that had been set up by AFFC engineers, as he could clearly see seams and joints where one wouldn't see them in a permanent structure. Curious as to what was attached to him, he tried to turn his neck, only for something to keep his neck firmly in place. Broken neck too, huh? I guess the damage was worse than it looked.
Just as he noted this, he watched as a doctor came over to him. Spotting the fact that Shepard was awake, the doctor smiled and said, "Well, I guess the rumors are true, Shepard. You must be related to Adrian Carton de Wiart, because, like him, you seem to be unkillable." Before Shepard could talk, the man hushed him, before checking over his vitals and nodding a few times. A moment later, he gave Shepard a wet cloth to suck on.
Once his mouth was hydrated, Shepard asked, "D-did we win? Did we defeat the Reapers?" Even to himself, his voice sounded rough and ragged, another indicator of how badly fucked up he'd been.
"I'll let your crew speak for you on that. Still, since I'm here, then the answer is yes," the doctor replied. "Still, as far as I can tell, Shepard, you are on the road to recovery. I had to admit, you came close to dying quite a few times these past few days."
We did it, he smiled. We won against the Reapers! Joy and relief blossomed in Shepard's heart. A moment later, worry replaced it, as he asked, "What about the Geth and EDI? Did they -?"
"We are here, Shepard," Legion replied, walking into view, along with EDI, Joker, Garrus, Nyreen, Celicia, Vorenus, Iavalia, Liara, Kaidan, Vega, Tali, Wrex, Samara, Miranda and a few others. "You did it. You defeated the Reapers, without destroying myself and the Geth."
Shepard smiled, that joy and happiness blossoming in his heart once more. I made the right choice, he knew deep down. I rejected the easy path to power, and I chose the road less traveled.
Looking at Shepard, Joker came over and, in a rare moment, openly wept as he rested his head on the cast that covered the upper half of Shepard's body. "Shepard," he wept. "I came back… I came back for you."
Shepard smiled. "I know you did," he smiled. "Thank you, all of you, for standing by me to the very end of this war."
"Likewise," Garrus nodded. "I'm glad you survived as well. To paraphrase what you told me, there's no Vakarian without Shepard."
Shepard smiled at that. "So, y'all came all the way here just to see me?"
"Yep," Tali nodded. "We've been here for the past week waiting for you to wake up."
That had Shepard's attention. "One week?" he asked. "It was that bad?"
"Yep," the Doctor. Dr. Richards, nodded as he examined Shepard. "I'll be honest with you, Shepard. You got pretty messed up out there."
"How bad was it?"
"Well… good thing I've got a list here," Richards remarked. He picked up a clipboard and began to read through it. "According to this list here, you have the following injuries: ruptured diaphragm, amputation of the left leg below the knee, amputation of your right index finger, fifteen shattered ribs, two broken cervical vertebra, four shattered lumbar vertebra, a shattered coccyx, a cracked skull, two bruised lungs, one punctured lung, second to third degree burns on 65% of your body, a ruptured liver, a bruised spleen, a ruptured kidney and a whole host of other injuries that are so numerous, it would take up a small book to list them all."
Shepard whistled at that. "Damn," he remarked. "I did get fucked up. I assume most of it came from the beam that Harbinger fired at me."
"Only forty percent did," Richards corrected. "The rest came from the conduit blowing up in your face."
"Oh. Still, what's the prognosis, doc?"
"That's where I've got some good news," Richards beamed. "According to the trauma team that worked on you, you'll be able to walk, which is nothing short of a small miracle. On top of that, your organs are healing up quite nicely, and the ones that we couldn't save we replaced with donors. It turns out, your Clone really stepped up to the plate and helped you out."
"He did?" Shepard asked.
"Yeah," Garrus nodded. "It was the oddest thing too. When he heard you were injured, he literally said, 'use my organs to save him.' Fortunately, we didn't have to euthanize him, which is a whole other can of worms on it's own. In fact, he's volunteered to be your adopted twin brother."
"Oh boy," Shepard mock groaned. "Just what the galaxy needs. Another Shepard running around."
The crew laughed at that, though it was a carefree and happy laugh. "Either way," Celicia beamed, "when you've recovered, Shepard, there's going to be a major awards ceremony, and a massive party, by none other than Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner. Even the Clansmen will be coming to celebrate the Reapers defeat."
Shepard smiled, though he frowned a moment later. "How many did we lose?" he asked.
At that, the team frowned. "We lost a lot of people," Garrus said morosely. "They're still counting the bodies of the dead. The AFFC lost quite a few of ground people, and a few WarShips as well. The Reapers targeted them and the Clans the most. It'll be a while before they've fully recovered."
"On the bright side," Nyreen added, "they did kill quite a few Reapers, more than we could've on our own. However, there's someone that's got a higher kill count than everyone else in the room."
"Oh?" Shepard asked rhetorically.
"You, Shepard."
He smiled at that. "I thought as much." A moment later, a question popped into his head. "Did Anderson make it?"
"I'm here, Shepard," came Anderson's voice. A moment later, he walked into view, though Shepard did note that his left arm was now gone. "It's thanks to you resisting the Illusive Man that I was able to survive. I'll even have a cloned arm ready to go soon."
"That's good," Shepard smiled. "I'm so glad that you made it out alive and well."
"Me too, Shepard," Anderson nodded.
"Alright," Dr. Richards admonished them. "Shepard needs to recover now. It's going to be a lot of work getting him off his ass and back onto his feet again, and I do not want his injuries to be exacerbated." With that, everyone left the room. Though he was alone again, Shepard had a megawatt smile on his face. Once more, he felt at peace.
. . .
A few months later, after his full recovery, Shepard was standing at a balcony as he looked out over part of Vancouver, the city he'd first been at when the Reapers had struck. Everywhere he looked, he could see the devastation that had been wrought by the Reapers, from collapsed buildings and craters in the ground, to corpses that were still being recovered even after all this time. It was a grim reminder of how terrible the Reaper War had been.
Yet, in addition to this, he could see what was now happening now that the war had come to an end. He could see numerous rubble clearing crews clearing away rubble to allow construction crews to begin building new buildings, while personnel went around to begin setting up basic utilities. Off in the distance, he could see some IndustrialMechs clearing some debris away, allowing more IndustrialMechs to come set up the foundations for a new building.
I'm just glad that we've got this FOB to ourselves for the time being, he thought as he looked at where he was at. It's even got the balcony on the wall that I'm at, and it's a good view. With that thought, he turned back to looking over the city.
Hearing someone approach, Shepard turned to see Victor Steiner-Davion walking over, along with Commander Mason. "Mason, Victor," Shepard greeted. "Need me for something?"
"Not really, no," Victor replied. "Just came here to see how the demolition and construction crews were doing."
"They look like they're quite busy," Mason noted.
"That they are," Shepard agreed. "Much of what they're demolishing has basically been demolished already, so they've just got some debris clearing crews to help clear away the mess. I heard that they had to destroy a nearby bridge due to damage rendering it unsafe."
"That's correct," Victor nodded. Leaning against the railing he said, "I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, Shepard, but you kicked ass. Those Reapers stood little chance once you got onto the Citadel."
"It wasn't just the Reapers I had to deal with. I had to deal with an indoctrinated Illusive Man as well."
"I heard about him," Victor noted. "Damn shame that the Reapers got control of him, though I'm glad that he fought back in the end. Still, if he'd survived, he'd be sentenced to death by now, so I guess what happened is the ideal outcome."
"I guess," Shepard shrugged.
"That being said," Mason remarked. "I heard that you're going to be retiring from the Alliance soon. Is that true?"
Shepard slumped his shoulders slightly, then he said, "Yes, it's true. I'm getting to the point where I can't run around as well as the younger folks can. It's about time that the younger generation gets the spotlight."
"Well, if you're still up to that offer for mercenary work, I've got a position open for you. Gotta have a way to put food on the table, after all."
Shepard thought for a moment, then he said, "Actually, I've got another idea. I'm thinking of becoming the official ambassador for the Alliance to the Federated Commonwealth. We'll need someone that can work out any agreements with both sides."
Mason cocked an eyebrow, then he said, "That's reasonable. Still, the job offer's open when you want it."
"And I'll be more than happy to accept when the time comes," Shepard nodded. "Still, it's good to know that we've ended this war. After everything that's happened... I've earned some peace."
"That you have, Shepard," Victor nodded as he leaned against the railing with Shepard. "That you have."
. . .
Thus ends this tale of Commander Shepard and his crew. The following is a summary of what happened to his crew after the Reaper War, as well as what happened to each nation after the war.
Garrus Vakarian:
When the Reaper War was finished, Garrus Vakarian and his wife Nyreen Kandros returned to Palaven in order to live out their lives in peace. Things were about to become quite interesting for them, as not long after they arrived, Primarch Victus informed him that he was going to become the Hierarch of the Turian Hierarchy, a rank that was a step below that of Primarch. While initially surprised, Garrus Vakarian accepted the decision with equanimity.
During this time, his wife, Nyreen Kandros-Vakarian, would give birth to two healthy twins, whom she named Silvena and Levinia. It is said that when his new children were born, Garrus wept with joy at seeing the two new lives in the universe. Since then, with Nyreen's help, Garrus has managed to balance his duties as a Hierarch of the Hierarchy, and his duties and love as a father.
Garrus' children also grew up and found love when the war was over. By the time Garrus was seventy years of age, his children already had numerous children of their own, making him the grandfather of some of the Vakarian's newest members.
Urdnot Wrex:
Following the liberation of the galaxy from the Reapers, Urdnot Wrex returned home to Tuchanka in order to rule as Chieftain of Tuchanka. With his wife Bakara reminding him of what he had fought for, Wrex was able to lift the Krogan out of the barbarity of their old ways, and into the light of moral responsibility and respect. While many of the older and more conservative clans grumbled about this, they knew now that, without Shepard and Wrex's efforts to cure the Genophage, their species would have died out. In time, the Krogan would grow and become a thriving species, one that had learned to overcome it's violent past, and embrace a future where all people could live in happiness alongside each other.
Samara:
With the Reapers no longer a threat, Samara was able to return to her daughter Falare on the world of Nesuss. For a time, it seemed as though it would be this way for the rest of their lives, when news came that would rock the galaxy. When she learned of a cure for the genes responsible for creating Ardat-Yakshi, Samara and Falare both went to receive the cure. In time, their efforts to spread this cure would result in the Asari Republics destroying a source of great shame amongst their people. For the first time in her long life, Samara finally knew peace.
Thane Krios:
Despite his beliefs that he would soon die, Thane did not do so. The scientists and geneticists of the Federated Commonwealth, working hand in hand with the Hanar, soon found a cure for the disease known as Kepral's' Syndrome. Once he had received the cure, and a lung transplant, Thane was able to enjoy spending time with his son Kolyat. While it would be some time before the gulf between them was fully closed, both men were deeply grateful that they were able to spend time together as father and son, the way they wished their early relationship could be.
James Vega:
Shortly after the war, James Vega would strike out on his own, and become a fully fledged N7 in the Systems Alliance. During this time, he would propose the beginnings of what would soon become known as the Interuniversal Training Initiative. Much of his time, though, was spent stopping pirates from marauding the recovering colonies of Humanity and the other Council Races.
During this time, he would eventually marry a woman named Alejandra Juarez and become the proud father of four children. Even as he worked, he spent as much time with them as he could, and did his best to instill the traits that Shepard had instilled in him. Occasionally, he would take mercenary work, in order to make ends meet and put food on the table.
Javik:
With the knowledge that his species was not damned to extinction, Javik realized that it was up to Protheans like him to ensure that his people wouldn't die out. Working with his counterparts in the Inner Sphere, Javik would begin exploring the rest of the galaxy and the Inner Sphere for any more Protheans that had survived the collapse of their empire. While he and his team came across many hardships, they eventually managed to find nearly two thousand more Protheans. While it would take time for their species to recover, Javik knew that he had finally served against the Reapers the vengeance he had so desired to give them. To this day, he continues to help the species grow.
Victor Steiner-Davion
For much of the decade following the Reaper War, Victor Steiner-Davion would balance rebuilding the WarShips of the Federated Commonwealth with assisting the Council Races in rebuilding. During this time, he was surprised when his father, Hanse Davion, stepped down as First Prince of the Federated Suns. On June 15th, 3060, Victor Steiner-Davion, and his sister Katherine Steiner-Davion, were crowned the Archon-Princes of the Federated Commonwealth. Under their rule, the Federated Commonwealth would become the greatest power in the Inner Sphere since the Star League. In addition to this, Victor Steiner-Davion soon married a woman named Isis Marik, and would soon be the proud father of four children, one of whom would one day inherit the Federated Commonwealth.
Joker & EDI
Following the Reaper War, both Joker and EDI would consolidate their relationship with each other. While they weren't able to have any children naturally, both of them adopted children that had been orphaned during the war, on the condition that Joker tone down some of his jokes, and regulate what he watched and read. While somewhat miffed by this, Joker agreed to do so, understanding the value of restraint and moderation.
EDI would also go on to have children of her own, in a way. With the development of Quantum Blue Boxes, EDI became the template by which other AI's were developed. As such, EDI was content with her existence, knowing that she had a man that loved her, and children that would carry her legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Edward Wright:
The Reaper War served as a turning point in Edward Wright's career, which had begun to stagnate up to that point. During the Reaper War, he was injured in combat when a mine detonated, destroying his legs and forcing him to retreat for treatment. Despite this debilitating injury, Edward continued to look at the bright side of life, and simply remarked that 'shit happens.'
After the war, Edward would found the Edward Wright Demolitions Training Academy, which sought to teach people how to handle explosives safely and responsibly. His school would gain fame when his students would develop new tools for both construction and warfare for future generations to use.
Liara T'Soni
Following the Reaper War, Liara T'Soni would rebuild her intelligence gathering network, and would soon become known as the Spymaster of the galaxy. During this time, she was surprised when Quintus Allard decided to step down as Director of MIIO, and give the position to her. This came as a shock when she learned that, by taking her under his wing, Quintus had been training her to be his replacement. Under Liara's guidance, the MIIO would become the most effective intelligence apparatus in the entire Inner Sphere, surpassing even the Salarian's Special Tasks Group.
Her relationship with John Shepard would also continue to blossom, as she soon had five more children to share with him. Both he and Liara would strive to be the best parents they could, and they had many friends that would help them along on the road.
Commander John Shepard:
The Reaper War, and the decision he made to end it, would have lasting ramifications on Shepard's life for years to come. On the one hand, Shepard was finally free to pursue any life that he wished to have, though he would be quite busy maintaining the galaxy's stability following the Reaper War. A decade after the war, he would be honorably discharged from the Alliance Navy.
Even before his retirement, Shepard became the official Ambassador to the Federated Commonwealth for the Systems Alliance. While he often expressed his dislike for politics and the drama that came with the job, he knew the necessity of his work, and continued to conduct it to the best of his ability. To this day, though, it is suspected that, when off duty, he moonlights as a mercenary for Mason's Cavaliers.
Jake Mason:
Jake Mason would go on to become the most successful mercenary commander in the history Chloe's Cavaliers, now known as Mason's Cavaliers. During this time, even when Shepard and his crew were members of his company, he would secretly marry a woman by the name of Alexandria Wright. It was after the war that he went public with this information, with his wife having had four children since their marriage. While he had some difficulties in his relationship with his wife, Jake Mason never once stopped loving his children, using his job as a mercenary to put food on the table for them, and to further their education.
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy:
Following the Reaper War, Tali'Zorah would go on to become the Prime Minister of the Quarian Consensus. Despite her dislike of politics, and the drama that came with it, she proved to be a highly capable leader, and before long was seen as one of the greatest. During this time, she would marry Kaal'Reagar, who had survived, contrary to reports of his demise, and go on to have three children of her own.
Legion:
The Geth known as Legion would become a paragon of what the Geth were to be following the Reaper War. Working with the other Geth in the Consensus, Legion became the dominant personality of the Geth Singularity once all of the Geth were uploaded into the Dyson Sphere they were building. During this time, Legion also had, in a sense, children of it's own, with several new Geth being created from it's chassis and program types. To this day, Legion continues to ensure that relations with all organic races are warm and cordial.
The Clans:
While their involvement in the Reaper War was limited up to the Battle of Earth, the Clans had helped strike a major blow against the Reapers. While they had lost a good deal of the toumans they had, the Clans were grateful to have fought against a worthy enemy. The Warden Clans were grateful to have fought back against an enemy that would've destroyed the Inner Sphere and the galaxy, while the Crusader Clans were pleased to have helped liberate an alternate version of Earth.
Shepard's actions would win him much honor and glory amongst the Clans. As such, the Clan Remembrance had an entry added to it, with Shepard deeds both before and after he came to the Inner Sphere being recorded. To the Warden Clans, he was the epitome of what a warrior should strike to be. To the Crusader Clans, he was what a worthy opponent should be.
Federated Commonwealth:
Under Victor Steiner-Davion and Katherine Steiner-Davion's rule, the Federated Commonwealth would become the greatest government since the formation of the Star League. Under their rule, the people of the Federated Commonwealth thrived, with many calling them the greatest rulers the Inner Sphere had ever seen, and would ever see. Their popularity extended to even the Council Races, and it wasn't long before many Turians, Salarians, Asari, Krogan and many other species came to live within the Federated Commonwealth's borders. Throughout the Clan's Wars of Reaving, as well as their subsequent attempt to re-invade the Inner Sphere, the Federated Commonwealth would stand the test of time and protect the Inner Sphere no matter what came. With the development of better K-F Drives, many have predicted that the Federated Commonwealth will soon make the transition from an autocracy to a true republican democracy.
Free Worlds League:
While the Free Worlds League was disgruntled by the territory lost during the Fourth Succession War, they soon came to realize that the formation of the Federated Commonwealth was the best thing that could happen to the Inner Sphere. During the Restoration, the time period where the Inner Sphere would reach the tech level of the Federated Commonwealth, the Free Worlds League would soon build a strong relationship with their Steiner-Davion neighbors. Soon, House Marik would become a valued friend of the Federated Commonwealth.
The arrival of the Council Races also brought stability and peace to the Free Worlds League. Over time, numerous Turians, Salarians, Asarsi and other species would become members of the Free World's League's parliament, which would see the bureaucracy and corruption plaguing the nation purged and cleansed. By the year 3100, the Free Worlds League would be restored to what it's founders intended for it to be: a bastion of democracy in an autocratic Inner Sphere.
Draconis Combine:
With the losses brought on by the Clan Invasion and the Fourth Succession War, the Draconis Combine's power began to wane, with House Kurita being plagued by constant rebellions and infighting. In 3080, the Draconis Combine collapsed completely, breaking apart into dozens of nation-states controlled by various warlords These would eventually be absorbed by their neighbors, with the formation of the Draconis Republic restoring order and prosperity to that part of the Inner Sphere. While they would be the weakest of the Great Houses, the newly formed Draconis Republic would learn from the past, and avoid becoming the monster that was the Draconis Combine.
Taurian Concordat:
The nations of the Periphery were initially worried and frightened of this new development in the Inner Sphere, but soon came to discover that their doom wasn't night. No better example of this came when Jeffrey Calderon replaced his father as Protector of the Taurian Concordat. Under his reign, the Taurian Concordat would blossom into a true Great House of it's own, with strong ties with the Federated Commonwealth and Free Worlds League. While they remain somewhat vigilant to this day, they too see the value in cooperation, and have provided some of the best naval fleets the Inner Sphere has ever seen.
Magistracy of Canopus:
The Magistracy of Canopus also thrived in this new political climate. With the economy recovering and thriving, many came to spend their time and money in the Magistracy's numerous entertainment options. Many Asari came to live in the Magistracy of Canopus, where some of their 'other' talents were put to good use. While the Magistracy of Canopus is still hedonistic to this day, many of them have done well in restraining this hedonism.
Outworlds Alliance:
The Outworlds Alliance also benefited from this new political climate. Over time, Mitchell Avellar would form strong economic ties with the Federated Commonwealth, though he had to deal with constant incursions from the Draconis Combine. Despite this setback, the Outworlds Alliance soon solved many of the problems plaguing it, and would also expand to become it's own Great House. To this day, they are one of the most prosperous Periphery Nations, and they have strong ties with the Federated Commonwealth and the newly formed Draconis Republics.
Systems Alliance:
The Reaper War proved to be extremely devastating to the Systems Alliance, yet against all odds, the Alliance soon began to grow and expand, as numerous people that had hid in the Traverse and Terminus Systems returned now that the war was over. While Admiral Stephen Hackett would remain in charge for some time, due to the necessity of martial law, he would eventually step down with the election of Olivia Richards as President of the Alliance. Under Olivia's presidency, the Systems Alliance would begin to recover from the Reaper War and would forge a strong alliance with the Federated Commonwealth.
Turian Hierarchy:
Just as he promised, Primarch Victus, after the end of the Reaper War, forged an alliance with the Federated Commonwealth, a decision that would have strong ramifications for the wider galaxy. With this alliance cemented, it was not long before the Turian Hierarchy began to grow and prosper. With the K-F Drive having shattered the shackles binding them to their cluster, the Turians found many worlds that they could settle, and before long, began to have a population boom. Their technology also flourished, allowing the Turians to become the strongest of the Federated Commonwealths' allies in their universe. Even to this day, they continue to grow and expand from the numerous colonies they have set up.
The Volus, the client race of the Turians responsible for the galactic economy, would quickly go to work stabilizing the galactic economy. During this time, they found that the Federated Commonwealth and Free Worlds League, along with the Periphery Nations, were fierce sources of competition. This competition would help quickly rebuild the galactic economy, while the Volus would find this competition to be both stimulating and refreshing.
Salarian Union:
The Salarian Union would see a slump in it's power for a time, following the Reaper War. While they would recover faster than the other Council Races, they soon found that the Special Tasks Group had strong competition from the Federated Commonwealth's MIIO and the Free Worlds League's SAFE. While they had an up-hill struggle, they would eventually regain much of their power, though the evidence of some of their actions would taint their reputation for some time. Even so, they would also become a strong ally of the Federated Commonwealth.
Asari Republics:
The Asari Republics, while having weathered the Reaper War, would lose much of it's good reputation and power. When news of their hoarding of Prothean relics became widespread throughout the galaxy, many Asari Matriarchs lost the power and prestige that they once had. Many internal rebellions occurred as many of these Matriarchs attempted to regain their power and influence either through honeyed words, or brute force. While Matriarch Lisania would eventually stabilize the Republics, the Asari would never again hold the power and influence they once had, a fact that Lisania firmly acknowledged in her election speech.
The Courts of Dekuuna:
The Elcor's goverment, known as the Courts of Dekuuna, would also thrive after the Reaper War. During the reconstruction of the galaxy, the Elcor would ally themselves with the Federated Commonwealth and Systems Alliance, starting the formation of a powerful socio-economiic-political bloc that would become known as the Federated Commonwealth Bloc. Many of them emigrated to high gravity worlds within the Inner Sphere, while the increasingly widespread use of the K-F Drive would result in a population boom for their species.
Batarian Hegemony:
The Reaper War proved to be devastating to the Batarian species as a whole. Reduced to a fraction of their former glory, many Batarians fell into piracy in order to make a living for themselves. The destruction of the old government, however, allowed the Free Batarian Movement, which had survived relatively intact, to quickly gain power, resulting in the formation of the Batarian Confederacy. While the population is still recovering from the horrors of the Reaper Wars, the Batarian Confederacy has made many leaps forward, both in morality and in infuence. Slavery has been rigorously abolished, and many Batarians are starting to enjoy success in the wider galaxy.
Migrant Fleet & Geth Consensus:
Following the Reaper War, the Quarians and Geth would unit to form the Quarian Consensus. While tensions and prejudices from the Morning War would remain for some time, many of the Quarians soon learned to overcome their differences and work to bridge the gap between the two species. Before long, the Quarians would have a population boom, while the Geth would finish construction of the Dyson Sphere that would house the Geth's collective intelligence. This resulted in the Geth Singularity, with the Geth becoming an intelligence equal to that of the Reapers. They, however, would forever remember Shepard's efforts to bring about peace, and as such, have maintained friendly relations with the Quarians and other races. To this day, the Quarian Consensus and Geth Singularity are among the most prosperous nation-states in the galaxy.
. . .
Thus ends this chapter in the life of Commander Shepard and those that he encountered and met, yet this is not the end of his tale, as a hero's work is never truly done. Many have spoken of his deeds, and many have spoken of his life. Many, though, have yet to meet the man responsible for many of the events of this tale. Commander Shepard is more than just a mere man due to his actions alone. He is one of the few that has risen up and become one thing that all soldiers and MechWarriors strive to be:
A True Legend.
(Author's Q&A)
SulliMike23: As you can see, the answer is yes.
Guest: Thank you.
Tohoufanatic: Yes indeed. To me, it was the right choice.
edboy4926: I know. Still, I'm glad that you thought the chapter was still good.
Violet Toyger: Thank you.
RandomReader: I noticed that too, so I rewrote it to be more organic. Also, I agree with your thinking. The other two endings make things seem too easy, plus I liked Commander Shepard. This variation of the Destroy ending allows Shepard to survive, while giving hope for the future.
StarBorn Michael: Thank you, and that is very high praise. I thank you for your kind words.