Garrus gasped at the vivid nightmare and tried to sit up.

"Glerg!"

Emphasis on 'tried'. He felt like the day after his sister Solana had convinced him to piss on an electric fence.

"Ah, Lieutenant. Good to see you are awake."

Garrus rolled his head to look at the Salarian assigned ship's doctor, Mordin.

"I'm, hurg, happy that you're happy, but could you explain what happened?"

"You saved my dumb ass from getting zapped by the Beacon just before it blew up." An unarmored shadow loomed over the opposite side of the bed. "I'd swoon, but then our friendly neighborhood Gray might get probe-happy."

The Salarian gave a terse frown at Jane's now typical teasing; it had taken a bit to pry the 'Legend of the Grays' out of her after the first few probe jokes. Since then, it had become a shipwide custom to tease the extremely inquisitive doctor at least once a day.

"You needn't worry, Spartan; with two more of your kind to satisfy my urges, I should be able to limit my examinations," he wiggled a single finger in the air, "to once a week."

He refocused his attention on Garrus. "Of greater concern is you. What do you remember?"

Garrus settled back and stared at the ceiling. "Arrival, the wreckage, landing, the Dreadnought, and-" His eyes snapped wide and he did sit upright this time. "SPECTER Kryick!"

"Is currently in a trauma stasis bed. He is stable, though in critical condition." Mordin laid a hand on his shoulder. "He is alive because of you."

Garrus slumped. "No, he's alive because of Jane. I panicked like a raw recruit-"

"You then pulled yourself together, and led us to victory against the Homunculus." She shrugged her shoulders and smirked. "And, you know, saved the colony from the Hanar A-Mat bombs."

Garrus flexed his mandibles in a wane smile. "I also, apparently, destroyed the Beacon. The Council's going to love that."

Jane waved him off. "Ah, blame it on me. I'm certainly going to be blaming them for the attack on the colony."

"You can't reasonably expect-"

"It isn't about reasonable, Garrus," Jane's back went rigid, "it's about accountability. The Hanar are a well established member of the Citadel Alliance. Their actions carry the tacit approval of the Council, until such time as the Council acts otherwise." Her back relaxed slightly as she turned towards the Turian. "This is the third time a Human colony has been attacked by a Citadel aligned species, and the UTSG is going to want blood."

Jane, Kaiden's voice came over the intercom, can you come down to the cargo bay? Gunny thinks she has something.

Garrus whipped his head towards the Spartan in the room. "Those were the two Spartans we met on the colony; what are they doing aboard the ship?!"

Jane turned towards the hatch. "Safeguarding UNSC intelligence assets. Come on once you get some pants on."

Garrus gasped and suddenly looked down at his... fully clothed body.

-clunk-hiss- "Made you look!" -hiss-clunk-

Garrus growled in annoyance. "I already have an annoying older sister; which Spirits did I offend to need another?"

Mordin blinked and shrugged. "Uncertain about Turian spiritual disposition, however it would be best for you as the current Commander of the ship," he emphasized the last part, "to see what has our guests so excited."

Garrus clicked his mandibles in resignation, then headed down to the cargo hold.

Once the Titans Damned elevator came back up.

"First chance in Dry Dock, we're getting this fixed."

The door opened onto the bay, but it was far more crowded than he ever remembered it. The MACO was obviously in its alcove, however there were several new additions. The valorized satellite was tucked back on a rolling platform that would move it out of the way of the MACO, or into position to scan out of the open main hatch. Just behind the MACO was a collection of various wreckage; ranging from pieces of Hanar ships, to the shattered remains of the Prothean Beacon. Theris and one of the Ship's Troops were standing watch over the artifacts.

The last item in the bay was a three meter ring that looked like it belonged in a Battarian dungeon, or a Fornax one. There were three lockers on the floor next to it. The three Spartans, sans armor, were all standing next to it, beside a raised pedestal projecting a hologram.

"Hey Garrus," Jane waved him over, "Williams managed to clean up the security footage from the loading pier. There's a lot of EM artifacts, and the audio file is shot, but we've got a decent view of the incident."

He trotted over, giving the torture ring as much space as he could. "Thank you, Spartan Williams. This mission was a serious, I believe Jane calls them 'Foobear'-"

"FUBAR," all three Spartans said at once. "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition." Williams kept tapping at the controls.

Garrus buzzed. "That sounds about right. Anyway, having an answer as to what happened to SPECTER Kryick might at least soften the blow of," he gestured towards the remains of the Beacon, "that, and your assistance in keeping him alive means a lot. Thank you."

The taciturn Spartan glanced warily at him from under her brow, before hitting one control and stepping back. The hologram Initially showed a top down image of Nihlus walking onto the platform, then a second figure coming up behind him: a Turian figure.

"Damnit, I wish we could see his face," Garrus grumbled.

The hologram paused, and Kaiden grabbed the hologram and spun it, until it showed both Turians looking at Garrus.

"Thanks," he said as he looked at a face he was very familiar with. After all, he'd grown up the son of Castis Vakarian, so he'd grown up seeing and hearing about his father's old commander, SPECTER Saren Arterius.

Garrus absently patted his pockets down for something as the hologram began playing again. There was a short conversation between the two SPECTERs, and Nihlus turned his back. Saren drew his sidearm and took aim, just as Nihlus palmed his own pistol and spun. Saren's shot struck Nihlus in the jaw, rather than the back of his head, and he was thrown to the ground; but not before he shot Saren in the arm. The look of unreasoning rage on Saren's face was the stuff of nightmares, as he stomped on his former comrade and shot him in the chest.

Garrus found what he had been looking for as the hologram froze again, and pulled it out. He looked from the frozen visage of hate, to a scrap of paper with a single name scrawled on it in precise Turian letters: Saren.

"Well, at least we have a face for Nihlus' attacker," Jane pushed off from where she had been leaning. "It's odd though; why would a Turian be involved in a Hanar raid?"

He pinched his mandibles tight as he looked back into the face of the betrayer. "Because he was the instigator," Garrus growled. "That's Saren Arterius, brother of disgraced Citizen Desolas Arterius, the commander of the original attack on your Shanxi colony. Saren has never forgiven your people for his family's fall from power." He stepped back and began pacing. "He's also been the chief SPECTER the Council has been sending into Hanar space on 'fact finding missions'," he air-quoted, "every time relations with the Illuminated Primacy soured. I think we now know why."

The three Spartans all looked at the image, then back at Garrus. "This is a bit much for a decades old grudge," Williams said, though she winced as if stepping in something uncomfortable, "and it doesn't explain any of the advanced tech: rapid cyborg conversion, their own cyborgs, or that superdreadnought."

"I know," Garrus began pacing again, "this was definitely about the Beacon: either to secure it, or to deny it." He rubbed his head as a quick image of tortured flesh flashed in front of his eyes. "What is the state of the colony as a whole? Is the government intact, are there refugees to consider?"

Kaiden shuffled a bit as he brought up information on the holo-pedestal. "The capital is largely intact, but the population was hit pretty badly, especially in the countryside where the Hanar ships were crashing." He looked over to Ashley. "Initial projections are around twenty-five percent casualties, but that number is likely to rise; there's still a lot of fighting."

"Admiral Drescher and CSG 87 are dealing with that," Jane clapped some dust off her hands. "We've got until she has Eden Prime secured to get an explanation from the Council. After that, she pretty much has unilateral authority to declare war."

"Wouldn't that require your UTSG to vote?"

All three Spartans glanced between each other, before turning back. "The last communication anyone received from the core systems was that Winter Contingency was in effect." Jane sighed as she saw the blank look on Garrus' face. "It means a major colony in our core was hit by the Covenant, and now all communications are suspended so they can't backtrace the call to Earth."

Garrus buzzed in frustration, then huffed. "Alright," he headed over to a wall comm unit. "Jo'Kar, set a high speed course for the Citadel. Transmit Nihlus' SPECTER Authorization ahead of us, so people know to get the hell out of our way." He looked back at the Spartans. "Give my apologies to your Admiral, but we're leaving and I'm not stopping to hand over sensitive gear." He nodded at the satellite in its cradle.

Ashley scoffed. "That thing? Nobody gives a shit about a system traffic monitor."

He frowned. "Then what 'UNSC Intelligence Assets' are you on my ship to protect?"

Kaiden smirked and thumped the ring with his fist.

Garrus stared for a moment, then shook his head and went back to the elevator. "Make your calls, then get secured for transit."

...

Garrus stood in the cockpit beside Jo'Kar as they approached the Citadel. Jane and the Spartans were standing beside him, and he had mixed feelings about that.

On the one talon, he wanted them to see the Citadel in all its beauty and majesty, to try to glimpse what his people saw when they first came here.

On the other, his time monitoring the UNSC operations against the Pirates of Torfan hadn't prepared him for the visceral reality of the UNSS Matterhorn's 1500 meter bulk looming over his ship. The CDS Destiny Ascension was the only ship that compared, and she had only three sister ships.

Would the Terrans think the display quaint? Would they scoff, and compare the ancient Prothean artifact against whatever titanic structure their own people had built, rather than found?

The Citadel became visible through the cloud of the Widow Nebula.

"This thing is fifty thousand years old, and still fully operational?" Kaiden leaned against one of the navigator stations. "Artemis Tower back on Ee-Pee was only fifteen years old when it needed a whole new foundation."

Jane hummed tunelessly. "Same with the Beacon, even if it was glitchy. I'll give the Protheans this, they built to last."

"I am Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look upon my works, ye mighty, and Despair!"

Garrus glanced over at the taciturn Spartan in appreciation; if the Citadel could elicit such a poetic response-

"Come on Ash," Kaiden spoke without looking away, "be nice. They've invited us to their house; don't complain just because they didn't build it themselves."

There it is, Garrus thought to himself. He clicked his mandibles in resigned annoyance and tapped Jo-Kar on the shoulder. "Take us in. I need to get our various packages ready for transfer."

He turned and started down the ship's throat. "Jane, Ash, Kaiden, if you want I can get you Visas; you know, if you want to tour the Citadel and glower at it critically from the inside."

Jane cocked her head to the side. "Don't you have some very important meetings to go to?"

Garrus' frill fluttered in a shrug. "I've been told the Council wishes to 'review all evidence'," he air quoted, "before hearing any testimony; so we have some time."

It turned out that the Spartans did indeed want to tour the Citadel, so they all went down to C-SEC headquarters for Customs entry.

The Asari at the Customs desk kept glancing at the three Spartans in Class-B uniforms towering over her, particularly Kaiden.

"Alright, names please."

"Jane-B183."

"Kaiden-E002."

"Ashley Williams."

There was the tiniest flex in her tendrils that Jane had learned meant uncertainty. "Jane Beonayedree-"

"No, Bravo One hundred eighty three," she enunciated the alphanumeric code.

The Asari officer looked at the other two Spartans.

"Echo Zero Zero Two."

"Williams, spelled like it sounds."

Whether it was bureaucratic efficiency or just the Asari's desire to get rid of them, the three Spartans were issued Entry Visas and Multipasses in very short order.

"I think she liked you, Lieutenant," Ahsley nudged Kaiden as they walked away.

"More likely she felt my Biotics," he rubbed the back of his head. "My amp's been acting up ever since that Dreadnought."

Jane huffed and stretched her arms, relishing the very open architecture of the Citadel.

"Well, we're three wild and crazy Spartans! Where to first, Ell Tee?" She looked over at Garrus.

"I'm heading up to the Shift Captain's office to say 'hi' to my dad." He nodded to the nearby elevator. "Just tour around; if you aren't supposed to be somewhere, the doors won't open."

Ash clapped her hands, startling the Asari Customs officer and attracting everyone's attention, "Let's go out and get all the Citadel Tourist swag!"

The atrium started to calm down as the three headed to the elevator.

"This should be novel," Kaiden said conversationally, "I've never been surrounded by aliens that I wasn't under orders to shoot on sight."

"Jane!" Garrus barked over his shoulder while heading to the office level.

"We won't pick any fights, and we'll stay out of 'the bad part of town'."

They could see the almost defeated slump in the Turian's shoulders as the elevator door closed.

Ashley and Kaiden sagged slightly as the elevator began to rise. "Is this really the best call right now," Ashley looked towards the other two. "Going on siesta in enemy territory?"

"It's not 'enemy territory' yet," Jane rocked back and forth on her heels. "Better to be loose on the station if it does go that way, rather than boxed into the cargo hold."

They were all silent for a moment.

"Damnit! Are all these people's elevators this slow?"

The doors finally opened onto a scenic overlook of an artificial river, flowing between two stepped terraces that made up the 'walls' of the Presidium Ring.

"Huh," Ashley looked around, "it's pretty, at least."

The three did tour around a little, but quickly found they were essentially restricted to the open areas of the lowest terraces. They settled on a set of benches near an open air weapons merchant.

"Well, so much for picking up a novelty miniature 'Krogan War Memorial' or pocket 'Relay Monument'." Ash groused as she looked back and forth at the two structures. "Our money's no good here."

"Neither is our position," Jane sucked on her teeth. "We're too exposed."

"Still better than being boxed into the cargo hold, but not by much," Kaiden looked warily at the Relay Monument. "Five O'Clock."

"The Pseudo-Grunt," Ashley confirmed. "He's poked his head out of that shop twice now."

Jane lounged against the bench. "They're called 'Volus'. Not big on violence, but they pretty much run the Citadel's economy. Push comes to shove, puncture the suit off center mass, but no plasma. They breathe methane."

Ashley powered down the 'Emergency Plasma Pistol' built into her Service Omni-Device, while Kaiden pulled a pen from his pocket, enveloping it in a small Biotic field.

"-chkhiss- Humans, a word if I may?" All three turned to face the open shop door, and the Volus standing just inside. "I have something of a proposition for you, if you are interested."

The three glanced at one another, then stood and headed into the shop.

"Alright, you have us here," Jane stood between her fellow Spartans. "What did you want?"

"Straight to the point.-chkhiss-" The rotund alien settled behind their desk and looked directly at Jane. "My name is Barla Von. I am an advisor of sorts here on the presidium. I am also a point of contact for those seeking information."

"Information services? You're an intelligence contractor?"

"-chkhiss- Not exactly; I am a subcontractor for an organization which provides such services. For instance, I was provided information on all three of you, Jina Muchugaji of the ill-fated Kimanjano colony, Kaiden Alenko formerly of Shanxi, and Ashley Williams of-"

Ash snapped her hand up, a holographic Type-25 plasma emitter charged and ready to fire from her Omni-tool. "Did your source tell you the likelihood of me popping you like a balloon?!"

"-chkhiss- They did indeed," Barla Von was nonplussed by the threat, "though if you do, the information I am offering will understandably be off the table."

Jane rested a calming hand on Ash's shoulder, then stepped up as Ash stood down. "What information?"

"-chkhiss- You are not the only irregular visitors to the Citadel; there is a Quarian here, asking for you specifically, by name."

The three Spartans glanced at one another; they hadn't known they were going to be here until a few days ago.

"And what is this tidbit of information going to cost us?"

Barla chuckled. "In the finest tradition of sin-peddlers, this first taste is free. Besides, one of my employer's former assets has decided the Quarian needs to die, so foiling him would be doing us a favor." He started typing on his console. "The Quarian's name is Tali'Zorah, and she was last seen at a clinic in Zakera Ward, near the Markets."

He finished typing with a flourish. "There! -chkhiss- By the time you reach the Wards Access causeway, your Multipass permissions should be updated to grant you entry."

"Thanks," Jane nodded and spun on her heels. "Spartans, quick step."

"Come again," Barla called out to them as they marched out. "Tell a friend, and I could offer a discount!"

The Flying V of power walking Spartans drew considerable interest, but no resistance as they descended the Wards Access tunnel. As promised, the elevator that had been previously locked out opened with a ding. They made their way to the main Ward entry overlooking the arm of the station. There were several aliens staring at them as they looked back and forth.

Jane pointed at a particularly twitchy looking Salarian. "You! Where is the clinic?"

The alien pointed one way, and ran the other. The three paid no one else any attention as they headed to their destination. As they drew closer, they could hear raised voices and breaking glass.

"Fast and quiet," Jane all but subvocalized, as all three armed their Aegis shields and Type-25s.

They silently swept into the clinic and stacked behind a wall.

"I'll ask one last time Azure," the burr of a Batarrian's voice said, "who else knows about the suit rat?"

Jane signaled the other two, and they moved.

Alenko stood and pulled a snarling, half dressed, armed creature that was at the back wall breaking things. He grabbed the creature by the head, and cracked it like a whip. Ash rolled around the island they were behind, and fired a green bolt into the head of the Turian nearest her. Jane hopped over the island and punched the Batarrian in the chestplate while firing. The chest plate caved in, while the back of his armor blew out.

"Clear Left!"

"Clear Right!"

"All clear."

All three lowered their arms, as a lone Asari collapsed onto the floor. "Oh Goddess, it's true!"

"Ma'am," Jane extended a non-bloodied hand to the clinician, "we were told that a Quarian came here looking for us."

The Asari hesitated, then took the proffered hand up. "Uh, yes; she was in here earlier asking about the 'Spotran'."

Jane ignored the sound of Ash grinding her teeth. "Spartan Jane-B183. Multipass," She proffered her wrist as her Citadel issued Multipass popped up on command.

"Kaiden-E002. Multipass." He presented his as well.

"Ashley Williams. Multipass." Nothing happened. "Multipass!" She thumped her arm several times trying to get the hologram to appear.

"I told you Ash," Kaiden said with a smirk, "if you keep bringing your Plasma Balster up and down, and you'll short out the system."

"It only has to fire once-AHA!" The Hologram finally flickered to life.

"It only has to misfire once too."

"Not a problem," she bent down and picked up the pistol the Turian had been carrying. "I'll just use... use..." Ashley glared at the alien pistol as she tried to jam her finger into the turian sized trigger guard.

"Give it up, Williams," Jane said with a hint of a smirk. "You're only going to fit your hand into an Asari or Krogan firearm; there's a reason I use that Krogan meat tenderizer of a gun."

She turned back to the Clinician. "You said the Quarian, Tali'Zorah I believe, was here. Do you know where she went?"

"She wanted to get in touch with the Shadow Broker, so I sent her to Chora." The Asari looked at the three dead beings littering her clinic. "They work...worked for Chora. Why would he do this?!"

Kaiden stepped around Ashley, who was gathering up all the various scattered pieces of equipment. "We have reliable intel that someone specifically wants her dead. It may be this 'Chora'. Who is he?"

"He's a Batarian. He owns Chora's Den; it's a dive bar one level down that he uses as a money laundering service and a front for his work for the Shadow Broker." She gave the scavenging Spartan an aside look. "What are you-"

"War chest," she said as she pried the Omnitool off the pulped Batarian. "We may not be able to use it, but we can at least sell it." She stood up with her arms laden with an assortment of items.

Jane was about to rebuke Ashley, when the Asari opened a wall terminal. "If you are willing, I could buy those from you? You might not get as much as if you sold them yourselves, but you don't know the best fence in the markets, and they won't deal with a stranger anyway." She looked back and forth between the Spartans. "Not everyone who comes in here has ready cash, and it wouldn't be the first time I was 'paid' in weapons."

After some tinkering with the Multipass' functions, the three Spartans had a small warchest of Citadel Credits, and directions to Chora's Den.

"GRAAHHH! -BLAM-"

The entryway of which was blocked by the bulk of a bull Krogan.

Kaiden and Ashley stacked on the two corners facing the brute, while Jane Duck-walked up behind it.

The creature turned fractionally while she was approaching. "You're gonna need a hell of a lot more of you if you intend to take me on!" He flicked a biotic Throw at one goon in the Den, then spun into a crook beside the door, and leveled a very Krogan shotgun at her.

Jane could tell that neither Ash or Kaiden had a clear line of sight on him any more. She dashed up to the opposite side of the door and out of the line of fire. "You're not Chora or Tali'Zorah, and if you're neither of them I don't give a rat's ass!"

The Krogan squinted at her without lowering his gun. "If you want Chora, tough! I have a contract direct from the Shadow Broker to nail him to a wall!" He punctuated his statement with a shotgun blast through a foolhardy goon that had come into the doorway.

Jane grabbed the falling alien and one arm tossed it back into the Den, knocking another goon down. "And I want him to talk! You let me get my intel out of him, and you can make finger paint out of him for all I care!"

The Krogan squinted at her for a moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough."

Jane nodded, then shifted to a better position. "Ash, on Gamera, Kaiden on me." The Spartans stacked as ordered. "Armor up!" All three activated their Aegis pavise and primed their Plasma Blasters. "Advance!"

Jane and Ashley moved to the front and swept to either side of the central bar, with Kaiden and the Krogan throwing Biotic attacks at anything that moved. It was a matter of seconds to clear the central bar. The Krogan blew through the couple of goons in the ante chamber, and then they were at Chora's back room.

Jane looked at the Krogan. "Remember our deal: first he talks, then he dies."

He nodded. "Urdnot Wrex keeps his promises."

Wrex stepped out and Pulled the Batarian, whom Jane backhanded with her still active Aegis. The Plasma barrier shorted out at the impact, dumping its energy into the perceived threat. Said threat screamed as his flesh seared and his nerves all fired at once. He dropped to the ground smoking and writhing.

"Hey," Jane rolled the pitiful alien onto its back, "I'm going to ask a question, and how you answer will determine whether or not my new friend here pulls your arm off and beats you to death with your own fist."

Chora glared up at Jane and began to snarl, until she slammed her fist into the deck next to him. The plate deformed, putting a jagged piece of metal very close to his eyes.

"AHH! I'll talk!"

"Good." Jane all but laid down next to him so she could look him in the eyes. "Where's the Quarian who came to you?"

"She wanted to talk to the Shadow Broker! I said I'd get her a face-to-face!"

"That's a load of crap," Wrex reached down and hoisted Chora to his eye level. "I've worked for the Shadow Broker for centuries, and I've never met them face-to-face!"

"She didn't know that! I told her to meet him in the alley behind the Markets, and he could put her in touch with the Humans!"

Jane brought up a map of the local Market district. "Which one?" Chora pointed to a nearby alley with a shaking hand.

Jane spun on her heels and marched out. "Spartans, on me. Wrex," she glanced over her shoulder and gave Chora a wicked grin, "have fun."

There was a second of panicked screaming before a deafening crack, followed by a dull thud. The Spartans had just rounded the corner when Wrex came up behind them.

"I thought you were on the job," Jane looked at him.

"The job was to kill him," he said as they stalked out of the charnel house that was Chora's Den. "He's dead, and I'm between contracts."

"And that matters to us, how?" Ash glanced at the alien beside her.

"Got nothing better to do right now, and you lot seem like you're about to get into some interesting fights." He handed something to Jane. "Plus, Chora 'dropped' this. Figured it might be useful.

Jane was about to reach for it, when they all heard gunshots.

"Double time!"

All four thundered towards the alley, to find a waif of an alien scurrying away from a wounded Turian and a pair of lightly armored Salarians.

Ash's arm came up, but her Blaster shorted out. She swore as she dove to cover the girl with her Aegis as the Salarians began firing.

Jane and Kaiden returned fire with their Type-25s; though they could only get off the one shot each, they did manage to blast away their shields.

That still left the Turian, who lobbed a grenade at Tali. Jane and Kaiden brought their Aegis' up and joined Ash in protecting the Quarian. The shields took the blast, but it was the last gasp of their emergency defense gear; from there on, it would be hand-to-hand.

Before any of them could respond, the Turian's head popped, followed quickly by the two Salarians.

"Jane," Garrus growled out as he came up behind them, rifle at the ready, "you said, and I quote, 'We won't pick any fights, and we'll stay out of the bad part of town.'!" He looked around, as if finally noticing the two additional people. "I have spent the last twenty minutes tracking you through the worst part of the 'bad part of town', by following the trail of bodies left in your wake. I was gone an hour: what in the Ryncol soaked whorehouse hell have you been up to?"

Jane took a breath, when Garrus pinched his eyes shut and waved his hands. "Nope, never mind; we talk as we walk." He spun and headed over to a Taxi call terminal. "The Council wants to speak to us." He glanced at the Quarian and Krogan. "All of us. Might as well come along. You two being there might put them enough off balance that they'll give straight answers of their own."

...

The Citadel Council stood at their podiums, looking down on the arrayed beings in front of them.

Tevos spoke for the three, as Sparatus' mandibles were pinched tight enough to audibly creak, and Valern's robes fluttered with the nervous shivering of the Salarian Councilor.

"Ours is a truly... blessed era, that it should host both a Quarian and a Krogan for the first time in centuries." She ignored Wrex's scoff. "We are also pleased," she did shoot an aside glance at Sparatus' growl, "to host the first official representatives of the United Terran Systems Government in these hallowed halls."

She waited a moment, but the three massive, and slightly singed humans remained in perfect parade rest. "I do regret that such auspicious events should be marred by tragedy, but such is our fate.

"We have requested you come here today, to offer testimony to the events upon the Human colony of Eden Prime. You may be as," she hesitated before visibly taking a centering breath, "candid, as you wish. Please, tell us what happened."

"She wants candid, I'll give her candid," Ashley hissed out under her breath as she stood at attention.

"Ash," Kaiden whispered, "there's 'candid', and there's picking a fight."

"Gunnery Sergeant Ashley Williams, Spartan Operations Command, Seventh Battalion. I, along with Specialist Lieutenant Kaiden Echo 002 were assigned to the Frontier Expeditionary Force stationed on Eden Prime. Our ground duties didn't offer us much insight into the initial blitz, though we gave as good as we got, based on the number of Hanar ships that crashed on Ee-Pee; or perhaps that was intentional, given what happened once they touched down."

"Yes, these 'conversion pylons'," Valern spoke as they brought up a hologram of said devices, "as well as these, I believe you have dubbed them 'Homunculi'." The pylons were replaced by a still hologram of the Drell and Hanar cyborgs. "Recovered data from the Hanar ship recorders details placement protocols for... optimal conversion efficiency."

Ash bit back a curse at the sight, but pressed on. "Their optimal efficiency resulted in close to a quarter of the human population being tortured to death, then made to attack their neighbors. The Hanar and Drell were much more direct with any AI they encountered, choosing to biotically pulverize any Data Crystal Chip they encountered. Present tally has the death toll at nearly fifty percent of the population: three and a quarter million sapients dead at the hands, or tentacles of a 'revered' Citadel associate race."

The Council, as well as several of the various aliens who were in attendance, flinched at the bitter accusation.

"Neither revered, nor an associate race any longer," Sparatus ground out. "The atrocity committed against your people is in violation of every law we hold sacred. As of twenty-seven eighteen hours, this day, the Hanar embassy has been closed, its diplomats and attache's expelled, their visas in totality revoked, and all relays into or out of Kahje have been ordered blockaded. In short, the Hanar are no longer a part of this deliberative association: they may neither visit, nor trade here."

He tipped his chin up and glared at the general gallery. "Any person, colony or government which harbors or trades with the Enlightened Primacy and its agents, will find themselves under immediate sanction."

The murmur from the gallery was almost deafening, though almost unanimous in agreement, much to the surprise of the Spartans.

Tevos looked down at her podium, her shoulders heavy. "We cannot make this right to your people. We cannot return the lives, the peace, or the hope that was stolen in this horrific event." She looked up, and her gaze settled on Wrex and Tali. "This atrocity has laid bare a systemic failure within our society; one that has allowed us to ignore our own failings, and those we have failed in the past."

"What we can do," Valern tapped a control on their podium, "is offer you the chance to seek the architect of these events, and bring them to justice." A larger than life hologram of Saren Arterius sprang up. "Between the recovered Hanar audio logs, the holographic evidence you have generously delivered, and tissue samples from SPECTER Nihlus Kryick's equipment, we can only surmise that SPECTER Saren Arterius either colluded with or spearheaded the Hanar attack upon your colony. To what end, we cannot say."

Sparatus squared his shoulders and looked generally at Garrus' group. "Due to his involvement in this crime, and its effect of destabilizing the region, the Citadel Council is hereby revoking Citizen Saren Arterius's status as a SPECTER." Garrus buzzed in surprise at the declaration by the very Councilor who appointed Saren to his position. "He shall receive no aid or refuge within the Citadel, or among its associates."

"This leaves the ranks of the SPECTERs reduced by two, at least until SPECTER Kryick recovers from his injuries. Lieutenant Commander Vakarian, please step forward." Tevos motioned towards Garrus. "It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the rights and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance Branch of the Citadel."

Valern nodded in assent. "SPECTERs are not trained, but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle; those whose actions lift them above the rank and file."

Tevos continued. "SPECTERs are an ideal, a symbol, the embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the Council, instruments of our will."

Sparatus bit out, "SPECTERs bear a great burden. Both our first and last line of defense, the safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold."

Garrus buzzed nervously for a second, until he heard Jane clear her throat meaningfully. "This is a great honor, and I humbly accept the burden you place upon me."

"Very good, SPECTER Vakarian," Tevos nodded. "This concludes the open assembly portion of these proceedings. Join us in chambers, and we shall discuss your immediate orders."

The chambers turned out to be rather spacious, or would have been if not crowded with so many very large beings.

"Our first order for you is of a regrettably personal nature," Tevos spoke over her shoulder as she poured some tea. "Prior to the Officer Exchange program's reintroduction, I had asked a fellow Matriarch Benezia to seek out Saren. It was our combined hope that she could... temper him." She sat delicately in a large chair. "This has obviously not worked, and I have not heard from her since. I fear the worst."

"That she's his prisoner?" Garrus leaned forward.

"That she's his accomplice," Wrex rumbled out from the back.

Tevos grimaced and nodded. "Worse still, the father of her only surviving child is our representative in the exchange. Matriarch Aethyta is most tempestuous when roused to anger."

"Hah! That's an understatement," Wrex wandered over to a table with finger foods. "I've crossed paths and gunsights with her on at least two occasions."

"You mentioned her child," Jane asked from her seat. "I'm assuming you aren't just making idle conversation."

"Quite," Tevos nodded. "Our last intelligence on Liara placed her on an archeological dig on Therum."

Garrus flared his frill and mandibles in suspicion. "Do you want us to retrieve her to safeguard her, or to see if she knows anything?"

Sparatus clicked from the back of the room. "Yes."

Garrus clicked his mandibles in uncertainty. "Yes Councilors, though I can't make any promises if we run into that dreadnought again; it chased the Nierra-"

"Incorrect," a heavily digitally saturated voice came from the slight Quarian.

Tali clutched a box on her chest. "Bosh'tet! Are you trying to get us killed?"

"Accurate consensus cannot be achieved with incomplete or inaccurate data."

"It also can't be achieved if we're thrown out an airlock," she shrank deeper into her seat as everyone stared at her.

Sparatus gurgled while his frill and mandibles flexed in alarm. "Did you bring a Geth here?!"

"Incorrect," the digital voice declared, only slightly muffled by Tali's hands, "there are currently one thousand one hundred thirty eight runtimes in this portable terminal."

Everyone was motionless for a moment, then Wrex started to chuckle.

"Heh, looks like it's time to start working through those 'systemic societal flaws' you were talking about. Hahaha!" His chuckle became a full belly laugh.

Jane could see the councilors and Garrus were too beside themselves, so she turned to face the young Quarian. "You have Intel to share? Is that why you came here looking for us," she gestured to herself and the other two Spartans.

"Correct," the box on Tali's chest declared. "The Geth Collective has encountered the platform you refer to as 'the Hanar Dreadnought'."

Garrus managed to shake off his shock. "And you're saying it isn't?"

"Correct. This platform presented itself to the Geth as an autonomous synthetic intelligence."

"An AI superweapon," Ash huffed, "great. That's not gonna strain relations at all." She rolled her head back and scrubbed her face in frustration.

"You said it presented itself to you," Valern leaned forward. "For what purpose?"

"Unknown; however, based upon requested projects, the Consensus believes we were to be used as proxies in waging a war."

"Against whom," Sparatus stood up.

"Everyone."

...

"Fleetmaster," Thel's Second in command jogged over, "the advanced team managed to land and disrupt the transmission, however they were discovered."

Thel sighed. "A swifter response than I expected, but ultimately unavoidable. Were the Corvettes discovered?"

"No Fleetmaster. They have begun seeking the Relic, as well as scanning the Human defenses for the source of the Forbiddance. But Fleetmaster," the aide leaned in, "there has been a second development."

He brought Them to one of the holo-terminals and played back a transmission. A Type-26 Ground Strike Aircraft swooped past one of the primitive Human aircraft, when a strange nearly Human female reached out. The flight diagnostics went ballistic, with the aircraft soon falling out of the sky. Another recording showed a Sangheili leading a squad of Unggoy, when the same almost Human gestured. A distortion in space latched onto the warrior, just before exploding and ending the transmission.

"The Heretics have allies now!"

"Yes," Thel brought up a file on the Dark Energy, and compared the limited readings from the GSA and the Unggoy helmet cam, "they have." He began walking slowly down the corridor. "Assign a detachment of Zealots, and any of the Brute Stalkers we have to track and surveil this creature."

"Fleetmaster?" The lieutenant followed after the clearly distracted Thel.

"We have only ever encountered a few Humans capable of wielding the Dark Energy; we must know if this alliance represents their own foul Covenant, or something darker still."

"It will be done, Fleetmaster," the lieutenant bowed and left Thel to his thoughts.