Journey to the Citadel:

Later on, Shepard and the team had returned to the Normandy to wait for their new arrivals, Dr Mordin Solus and Bao Dur the droid engineer. Shepard waited in the main meeting room with Miranda while Jacob waited to greet Mordin and Bao once they had finished off their preparations at the clinic.

Soon, the door opened and Jacob walked in with Mordin and Bao at his side "Welcome aboard the Normandy both of you." He said "It's an honour to have you working alongside us."

"Yes very exciting." Mordin replied in his usual quick voice "Cerberus working alongside aliens. Unexpected, Illusive Man branching out maybe."

"I see you very well informed." Shepard stated "I wasn't aware that you knew the Illusive Man."

"Salarian government well connected." Mordin answered "Worked hard in espionage, had top level clearance, retired now, still hear things. Informed of name only, no knowledge of who the man is, anti-alien reputation listed as problematic."

"I am just as surprised as you are Mordin." Bao stated "Why would Cerberus want to recruit us."

"I still don't fully trust Cerberus but right now I need their aid to deal with the First Order." Shepard stated

"Yes, First Order dangerous." Mordin said quickly "Fast rise to power, attack on the Citadel, all links to idea of conquest and domination. Danger to galactic peace, must be stopped."

"And I've seen first-hand what the First Order does." Bao replied

"Also as a side mission, we did have a problem with human colonies going missing." Miranda added "At least 10 colonies vanished and when they stopped, the First Order seemed to come in. There could be a connection and we need to know what."

"Entire colonies disappeared without a trace." Jacob added "No distress signal was sent out. No signs of any battle. There was no sign that anything happened at all except that every man woman and child was gone."

"That cannot be a slaver attack." Bao stated "There would be signs of a fight."

"It was a race called the Collectors." Miranda replied "We found some evidence on one colony just after it disappeared. But now they seem to have stopped. We need to know why? If the collectors could abduct an entire colony without a fight, then who knows what else they can do. We need a counter measure."

Mordin thought about what could have caused such a thing "Gas attack maybe?" he suggested to himself "No that spreads too slow."

Miranda spoke up "You don't have to guess right now." She said "We were able to pick up some samples that you can test to develop a countermeasure in case we encounter them."

"And we needed a droid expert for the ship." Jacob added looking at Bao "You were one of the best and an inventor."

"Indeed I was." Bao replied "But I will need a place to work, as will Mordin."

Then EDI's voice came over the comms. "There is a fully functioning lab on the combat deck." She called "There is space for all your experiments plus a place for Bao Dur to work on the droids."

Bao and Mordin looked around confused as to where the voice was coming from "That can't be the pilot." Bao stated "He's busy flying the ship and it's too sophisticated to be a simple VI."

Mordin looked at Shepard "Is that a AI."

Shepard nodded "Yes, this ship is equipped with an artificial intelligence."

"We'll do whatever it takes to complete our mission." Jacob replied

"Well, I guess we both have a lot of work to do." Bao stated

Jacob began walking out of the room "Follow me. I'll take you to the lab." He said and Bao and Mordin followed him leaving Shepard and Miranda alone in the room.

Miranda looked at Shepard "Also I am happy to inform you that your friend Garrus has recovered from his wounds. Dr Chakwas is running some final tests before she dismisses him."

"That's good to hear." Shepard smiled "I'll find him afterwards. All of our recruits from Omega have been found. Now I guess we follow the rest but I think a tech expert is the most important. Someone who can use technology as well as be a good hacker."

"Your friend Tali would be ideal since you worked together but she's busy right now." Miranda replied "She may be available later when she finished her own mission but we have another candidate for you. A Master Thief called Kasumi Goto."

"A Master thief?" Shepard questioned

"Aye, she's one of the best thieves in the galaxy." Miranda replied "And expert hacker and sneaking through tight places. In fact, she's already helped us before, it was her who helped us get the information that led us to you. We already contacted her and she's agreed to meet on the Citadel. She apparently also has an important job; she says that she needs help to recover some valuable information which if leaked could cause a serious diplomatic incident which no one can afford fight now. The way to find her is to approach the advertisements on the Citadel and speak the passphrase "Silence is Golden." Then Kasumi will contact you and explain everything."

Shepard nodded "What about the other recruits?" She asked

"There are two other recruits for now." Miranda replied "The first one is important to help us with the First Order. They have their own group of Force Users called the Inquisitors. They are the feared enforcers that terrorize the population as well as hunt down anyone with force sensitivity and either kill them or abduct them to the order. We have a recruit called Jack who was an inquisitor in training but she managed to escape. The information we have on her says that she grew very powerful but tortured horrifically and managed to escape where she joined a group of pirates until she was captured by Turian special forces. She's been imprisoned on a private prison ship called the Purgatory which is run by the Blue Suns. We have paid for her release but be warned, she may need some convincing, some of the people who tortured her were rogue Cerberus personnel.

"And the other recruit?" Shepard asked

"We need someone with strength to act like a tank for the mission." Miranda replied "The Illusive Man decided that a Krogan was needed for the team and we managed to find one such potential although personally, I'm a little unsure if we can trust this man. His name is Warlord Okeer, one of the last remaining Krogan Battlemasters of the Krogan rebellions."

"Why are you unsure about him?" Shepard asked

"Because from what I've learnt, he may be the Krogan equivalent of the worst of Cerberus." Miranda explained "He's actually sees most other Krogan as weak and became obsessed with the Genophage, not with curing it but with working around it. He experimented on Krogan to try and make them the perfect species. His actions eventually got him exiled from Tuchanka but we heard he's cut a deal with the Blue Suns and some scientist. Now he's cloning Krogan for the Blue Suns to use as training or for soldiers on the planet Korlus, a planet used as a scrapyard for old ships."

"Yes I can see why you're worried about him." Shepard stated

"That doesn't mean he won't be useful." Miranda stated "He may still have information, apparently he actually worked with the Collectors, he's one of the few people who's actually met them. He sold his own people to them in exchange for technology to help develop his own Krogan army. That was what got him exiled so he may still have valuable information."

"Even so I believe a tech expert is the most important right now." Shepard replied "We'll set a course for the Citadel."

"As you wish Shepard." Miranda stated "And this may be a good time for you to catch up with your old friend Anderson, he helps maintain relations with the Council and may have useful information to help. And I hear your Spectre Friend Bau is on the Citadel. Maybe it's time you met the two of them."

"Good, it will be nice to see them again." Shepard smiled

…

Soon the Normandy undocked from Omega space port and began setting a course to the Citadel. Since the Citadel was located on the opposite side of the galaxy, it would take quite a long time to reach there even at lightspeed so Shepard has some time to catch up with the crew. But first she had to check up on Garrus and so she went down to the second main level on the Normandy which is where the Med Bay was located just opposite Miranda's office and next to the kitchen where Mess Officer Gardner would cook for the crew. Shepard entered the medical Bay and saw Garrus sitting on the edge of the bed with Dr Chakwas doing some inspections on his eyes.

"Well it seems that your eyesight is fine." Chakwas stated "I say that you are ready to go back into combat again since you can see just fine now." She turned when she heard Shepard enter "Ahh Commander Shepard, come to see your old friends Garrus have you?"

"Yes Doctor." Shepard replied

"Well you'll be happy to know that he should be ready to help you next time you're on a mission." Chakwas stated "He's lucky that his shields protected him from most of the blast though he will still have a few scars."

"Many Turians have scars." Garrus joked "We are a warrior culture after all."

"Just don't get injured on every mission." Chakwas scolded "Lord knows my job is already difficult enough as it is. I leave you two alone for a minute." She stepped out of the room while Garrus got off the bed.

"Did I worry you Commander?" Garrus asked

"You did." Shepard sighed "I was so scared for you when that missile hit you."

"It was worse for me when the original Normandy got destroyed." Garrus replied "For all of us. We searched for weeks but could never find your body. Then I suddenly see you on Omega and I was wondering if I was seeing things at first but once you entered the balcony and I knew it was you. Five years' commander, just what happened?"

"To be honest, I still don't know. I haven't been around that long." Shepard replied "All I know is that a lot has happened in the last five years."

"That would be an understatement." Garrus replied "You would think that after the attack on the Citadel that this First Order would be seen as a threat but no. Contact was soon made after the attack and they claimed that it was just a rogue faction and they had proof of it as well. I suspected that it was forged of course but with nothing to say otherwise, the Council just let it go and so did the Republic."

"What about the Turians?" Shepard asked "Surely they wouldn't be happy?"

"They've always been a stubborn race but they have a respect for the Republic for the order they've made in the territories and now the First Order seem to have been wiping out piracy in the Terminus Systems and Attican Traverse. Piercy has been at an all-time low for years. If only they knew what the First Order was doing."

"I heard about Lorak." Shepard stated

"Aye and that was just one action, who knows what else they've done." Garrus replied and looked at Shepard seriously "Look I don't trust Cerberus but I trust you so if you're involved in this then I'm in as well. It's just too bad that none of the others could be here. They're all too busy right now."

"Did you keep in contact with them?" Shepard asked

Garrus smiled "Indeed I did. They seem to be the only other ones who see the First Order as a threat and so they went to prepare their own groups. Wrex is bringing the Krogan together, Tali is trying to convince the Quarians about the dangers of the First Order, Liara is gathering information and Kaidan is working for a black ops group investigating the First Order. Luke and his old team mates joined him."

"I'm glad they're all okay." Shepard stated

"Kaidan took your loss the hardest." Garrus replied "He was devastated and at one point nearly got himself killed and discharged from the force until Luke stepped up to him. He's better now but he's not the same man he was five years ago. Hopefully you will get to meet again but don't expect him to be the same. You must have other things to do, if you need me I'll be in the Main Gun doing some calibrations on how to give that gun more firepower, we're going to need all the power we can get. Speaking of which I can get some schematics for a more powerful gun that was manufactured after the loss of the original Normandy and made from the tech that Sovereign was made up. They made a very powerful laser cannon which we can use against our enemies."

"Do it." Shepard ordered "The better guns we have the better, our weapons didn't even scratch the paint of the ship that attacked and destroyed the original Normandy." Afterwards she decided to head to get some rest but not before handing the T4 Couplings to the Engineer crew so they could fix their calibration problem and make their job easier.

…

A day or so later after resting, Shepard soon went to Main deck of the Normandy where Kelly was waiting. "Mordin's file did warn me of hyper behaviour but he is like a hamster on coffee. He's going to be a very productive member of the team. And Bao Dur seems to have adjusted well. Already the repair droids are operating even better than before and they were brand new. Whatever he's done, he managed to improve their performance. Though I do have some concern about some of the damaged droids he brought aboard. But maybe they will be useful to us. Anyway, is there something you need?"

"How is the crew doing?" Shepard asked

"Well we all happy that we're off Omega, many of us were scared of that place due to recent events." Kelly replied "Humans aren't the most popular there. Garrus seems to be doing well despite his injuries and Engineering seems to be happy that you brought those couplings. They don't have to work as long now and the ship runs smoother which makes them happy as the risk towards the core overpowering is now slimmer. According to calculations, we should be at the Citadel in a day or two so we might want to stock up with supplies while we're there. Mordin and Bao also seem to have adjusted to their workspace. You should go and see them."

"I will, carry on." Shepard ordered

"Yes Commander." Kelly replied and soon went back to work.

…

Shepard decided she needed to check the newest recruits to the crew and see how they were settling in. The laboratory had two sections, one was like a typical chemical laboratory where Mordin was working on a terminal checking out samples that he was working on. The other part at the back was more of a workshop for droids. This was where Bao Dur was working on repairing droids and working on upgrades for them. Shepard decided to talk with Mordin first,

"Shepard, how can I help?" he greeted

"Is this lab working well for both of you?" Shepard asked talking to both Mordin and Bao at the same time.

"Quite satisfactory." Mordin replied "Did find a few surveillance bugs, destroyed most of them, returned expensive looking one to Miranda. Nothing unexpected."

"I guess Cerberus still wants to keep an eye on us." Bao replied "At least it's easy for me to get parts for the droids, all I have to do is put a requisition in. Though older and rarer parts for my projects are harder to find."

"I just need more samples." Mordin added quickly "More collector data, tissue samples. Anything you can get, I can use, find new tech."

"Do you both mind if we can talk?" Shepard then asked

"Sure." Mordin replied "Plague on Omega dealt with, plenty of time to analyse collector samples. Missed working on a budget with limited supplies, loved a challenge but able to save people by not wasting resources, gives more thought into the mission. Nice retirement after STG work."

"Can you tell me more about the STG?" Shepard asked

"Salarian Task Group the main part of the Salarian military." Mordin replied "Respected organisation, handles difficult assignments with limited oversight. Recon, analysis, occasional wet work. Identify problems, have neutralization options should need arise. Council Spectres based on the STG. Salarians lack numbers, brute strength and military prowess. Have to rely on stealth and intelligence. Spectres are better funded of course, didn't have to buy our own weapons."

"What kind of work where you doing with the STG?" Shepard asked

"Mainly research but also some recon missions." Mordin replied "Covert, high risk, served under young captain named Kirrahe."

"Captain Kirrahe, I worked with him on Virmire to destroy Saren's Krogan research station." Shepard said when she heard the name Kirrahe."

"Ah yes, heard about that." Mordin replied "Heard he was protomted after that, now a major. Hold the line, his speeches always helped inspire us and good at working with minimal resources. Using the core of his ship to create a bomb, classic tactic. As for work, mostly worked on Genophage, collected tissue samples and water from Krogan colonies."

"Why would the STG study the Genophage, didn't the Salarians create it to limit Krogan reproduction?"

"Yes, Genophage was a bio weapon created by the Salarians but used by the Turians to end Krogan rebellions more than a 1000 years ago. Commonly and incorrectly believed to be a sterilization plague, in truth adjusts viable fertility rate to composite Krogan high birth rate. Stabilizes to pre-industrial birth rate. As for study, Krogan rebellions were bloody, fears of Genophage weakening could start new Krogan population bloom leading to future rebellions. Had to be watched. Just simple recon, nothing to worry about."

Shepard has feeling that there was more to Mordin's work with the Genophage but that wasn't important right now so she let it go.

"Nice talking to you Mordin." She finished

"Should get back to work." Mordin replied "More data needs analysing."

Shepard decided to go and speak to Bao about his past. "Hey Bao, mind if we talk."

"Sure thing Commander." Bao replied as he pulled an old damaged bolt from an Astromech droid "I was just finishing tending to these Astro droids here. Need routine maintenance to look after."

Shepard looked around his small workshop to see a number of rather old droids which models she had never seen before, "I see you like your antique droids."

"That's the thing with droids, new models come out making old ones obsolete." Bao replied "But to me there's a thing about these old droids, they may be old but they've always had a place in my heart. This is a controversial subject to most but droids are not just things, we have to work alongside them. I know people such as the Quarians may see it differently but we can't just use droids to do all our work. I hate people using droids for slave labour by using restraining bolts, that makes us no better really than the Batarian slavers. I know people may disagree with my opinion but it's what I believe. Droids are people to me. We grow attached to them and they should be treated as friends, not just property."

"It's okay to have your own opinion." Shepard said "Just be careful who you say things like that too. I'm not here to judge you."

"Thank you commander and sorry for my rambling." Bao apologized.

Shepard then noticed two droids behind him both of which were deactivated. One looked like a very old Astromech droid with a completely different style. This one had a more block like appearance rather than the usual cylinder shape. It also had four legs, two at the back attached to the body and two forward which pivoted like the usual astromech droids. It's head was also different since it was a large flat circle attacked to the body by a small neck like piece rather than a dome head that had no neck like the usual Astromech droids. The other droid looked like a protocol droid with reddish brown coloured plating but the head looked very mean looking head. "Are these the projects you were talking about?" Shepard asked

"Aye they are." Bao replied "I'm proud of them as these seem to be very old droids that are no longer in manufacture. I actually looked everywhere for records of them but could find nothing which makes me thing they from some long forgotten civilization. Some Asari scholars offered me a fortune for them but I don't want them studied, I want to try and reactivate them. There is so much we can learn from them. Both were found on a very badly damaged ship that was drifting in unexplored space. It took a lot of work and cleaning to bring them into the condition they are now in but I'm still missing a few parts. The old Astromech is almost ready, I just need to find something to restart his core but that is also compatible with his old tech. The Quarians may have something, I tried the Quarian on Omega but couldn't find anything. As for the other one, he needs some more complicated parts that are very difficult to find. A Vocabulator to help his voice box, a control cluster, a droid processor and an old chassis since his old one had rusted beyond repair, I need to salvage some old parts to try and fix him."

"I'll keep a look out for the parts you need." Shepard stated "We need all the help we can get."

"Thanks Commander." Bao replied.

"I should go now." Shepard said

"Bye Commander." Bao said as Shepard began to walk away. Shepard knew that they would soon be arriving at the Citadel and was wondering just how much things had changed since she was last on the Citadel over 5 years ago.

Chapter End:

Notes: Well after a long time, another chapter complete. I had thought about bringing the Citadel in this chapter but then I realised it would be too long with just chatting and no action which won't happen until the chapter after where we do Kasumi's mission which will be set on a Star Wars location and feature some cameos by some Star Wars characters including a fan favourite. I am trying to bring in stuff from KOTOR Games but I will have to replay them again to get a better understanding of which characters will fit. Two of them other than Bao Dur have just been seen in this chapter. On a review I have, I understand your critisim, I do have a problem with writing battle and fighting scenes so I will try my best to make them better in the future. I also just want to say that I am having a huge problem with Fanfiction which is not just with me, it says they have disconnected my email alerts and even though I have followed the instructions, it still has not been fixed, if anyone has any solutions, can you tell me as this whole problem is having an effect on my enjoyment of Fanfiction.