A war for independence is raging among the Sol Systems Alliance and Turian Higharchy against Turian Rebels, Quarian, Geth, Human and now the Krogan. The Turian Higharchy has declared war on the Quarian and Geth after they allegedly attacked Alliance facilities and supported the Turian Rebels. The Higharchy disavowed the Orbital Station incident, calling it propaganda and false flag attack by Phoenix — a group they aim to destroy along with Commander Jane Shepard. The Systems Alliance, Turian Higharchy, and Citadel Council have issued a kill order on Shepard. The Axis, as the alliance comprising these nations is currently known, has proposed that the Quarian, Geth, Krogan, Turian Rebels, and anyone else who opposes them return to the status quo before Shepard intervened and hand over the Commander. They promise to establish policies beneficial to all parties, ensuring the prosperity of their nations and people. The proposal put forth by the Axis has been rejected by the allied nations, and for now, the Asari and Salarians have opted to remain neutral. However, it is unclear how much longer they will remain on the sidelines, given their position on the Citadel Council.

The surprising development in this Galactic war is that the first major battle is being fought on the Krogan Home World, which no one expected. The Alliance forces are primarily in defense positions after they landed, allowing the Krogan to sustain heavy losses from Alliance MG and artillery fire. The other fronts against the Galactic Coalition are proving to be more fluid and intense. Commander Shepard is leading the GC forces in urban combat against the Alliance in a newly rebuilt Krogan city that has been reduced to rubble once again. The fighting is deadly and slow, but the GC is gradually pushing the Alliance back towards their landing sites. Shepard is conferring with the other Allied officers and using a Holomap to coordinate their efforts.

The Alliance is managing to hold their own against the Krogan, but they are losing ground to the Galactic Coalition. Gibson approaches Shepard and draws her attention to a specific location on the map. He informs her that Coalition intel has identified the Normandy crew's whereabouts near a nearby building, but they are unsure who is present. Meanwhile, Sara hands Shepard a padd with a message, which Shepard quickly reads and deletes before handing it back to Sara. When Sara asks about the message, Shepard remains silent and turns her attention back to the table. Shepard orders Gibson to take the Krogan forces they have and head to a location just north of where her old crew is holding up. Shepard instructs Sara to stay put and provide constant updates on the Enterprise's position and the Normandy's location. Karen and Aubree will accompany Shepard as they approach the Normandy crew from the south, with the aim of capturing them. The Holotable then turns off.

Four Hours Later

Shepard is leading her Geth and Quarian troops through the ruined city, still waiting for Phoenix to arrive. Shepard has obtained information about who is present at the Alliance FOB, which includes Specter Williams, James Vega, Garrus Vakarian, and some Alliance troops. The Hierarchy troops landed on the Krogan homeworld two hours ago, and Phoenix is still hours away. However, the Turian Rebels are coming with the Phoenix fleet, and they have only a few minutes before reaching the Alliance FOB. Shepard and her team approach a tall, bombed-out building just outside the Alliance FOB, and Shepard orders her team to enter the building. They hear the sound of Alliance armor and gunships flying around and near their positions. Shepard orders Gibson to provide an update while Karen and Aubree oversee their team.

"Gibson, update." Shepard orders as Karen and Aubree overlook their team.

"We are behind schedule commander. Be in position in 20 mikes." Gibson updates his commander.

"Solid copy. Keep me informed of your progress. We will recon the area." Shepard states to her crew member. Karen walks over to Shepard as they both overwatch the Alliance FOB.

"You know it is a trap, right?" Karen states the obvious.

"Yea...whatever happens to me. You are in command captain." Commander Shepard says as her team prepares for a long night ahead by digging in at their location overlooking the Alliance FOB.

Three hours have passed, and it is now six hours before dawn. Karen wakes Shepard up, informing her that it's time to go. Gibson has just completed his reconnaissance of their position, and the team gathers around a Geth trooper who is projecting the FOB. Shepard and Karen come up with a plan, with the Krogan forces under Gibson's command being prepared for a fight, while the Geth and Quarian troops are more hesitant but nevertheless aware of the task at hand.

The Alliance FOB is well-defended with heavy MG and light anti-armor guns, which are strategically placed to intersect lines of fire. The anti-armor guns are meant for Shepard's Geth allies, and after consulting with her allied officers, Shepard decides that the only way in is through the front door, despite the heavy cost that comes with it. Shepard gives the order for all fronts to prepare for the attack, before moving away from the group to make a call to Sara.

As Jane asks Sara for an update, "No. Nothing. Something is not right here Jane. The Alliance is too quiet in this area...just watch yourself OK."

"I will try. Sara...should anything happen to me...Karen is in command."

"Does she know?"

"Yes..." Shepard says as she signs off. Shepard grabs her rifle and prepares to move out with her troops to get into position. As they leave the building, she murmurs to herself with a sense of foreboding, "May God help us all."

One Hour Later

Shepard checks her watch and sees that the moment of truth is approaching. She observes her Quarian marines, who are visibly tense, while her Geth troopers remain cold and unemotional, a stark contrast to the past when she had little trust in them. However, Shepard now believes in the Geth.

Two Minutes Later

Shepard checks her watch again and prepares her rifle, loading a thermal clip, as her team follows suit. At zero hour, Shepard hears the base go on full alert as her Krogan allies launch an attack on the Alliance FOB from the North. After a few minutes, Shepard gives the order for her team to advance. The Geth lead the charge, scaling a fallen wall ahead of Shepard and her team, with the Quarians lagging behind. As they move forward, they come under heavy fire from machine guns and anti-armor weapons. Shepard takes cover in an alleyway momentarily as her unit continues to push forward.

As Shepard prepares to leave the safety of the alley, her unit comes under attack from three Alliance gunships, which start firing relentlessly. Shepard calls for air support, and the Krogan respond by sending in a few gunship assets on standby.

After a few tense moments, the Krogan gunships successfully persuade the attacking Alliance gunships to fly away. Two Krogan gunships remain in the area, continuing to help out Shepard's team's by taking out some Alliance machine guns and some of their anti-armor defenses. Shepard decides to leave the safety of the alley and lead her team forward, ready to confront the remaining enemy forces.

"Move!" Shepard barks, commanding three squads of Quarian and Geth troopers as they engage an Alliance unit. Shepard takes cover behind a Geth trooper and orders the advance, encouraging her allies to move without stopping. "Sitrep now!" she demands.

"We're advancing now! Krogan forces are pushing the Alliance back!" Jack reports.

"Excellent work. Keep the pressure up," Shepard replies, firing her SCAR rifle at the retreating Alliance as she advances with her allied forces. However, she's unaware of a lone sniper in a ruined building who has taken aim at her. The sniper waits and watches as Shepard continues to fight alongside her allies. As the Alliance falls back, the sniper sees an opportunity to take the shot.

As Shepard changed her magazine, a slug slammed into her, sending her back a few feet, and she slammed into a Geth rocket trooper. Quickly, the Geth pulled her out of the line of fire as Shepard remained on the ground while being dragged away. A trail of crimson blood followed her as one of the Quarian marines approached her.

The marine assessed the situation and saw that the slug hit Shepard's vest just above her heart. Unfortunately, it shattered the ceramic plate and went straight through her, exiting out her back. The marine did what he could to help the hero of the galaxy.

"We need immediate medical evacuation! Commander Shepard is down and critical! I repeat, we need immediate medical evacuation!" the Quarian marine announced urgently over the comms.

After a few moments a shuttle comes into view. Karen moves over and stays close to Commander Shepard, who is unconscious, as they both watch a Phoenix shuttle approach and land near them. Four Turian soldiers exit the shuttle, with two of them grabbing hold of the wounded Commander Shepard while the other two open fire on the Alliance positions. Karen sees the commander being taken away and, as the shuttle's door is about to close, she is hit by a sniper round in the arm, shattering her ceramic armor. She cries out in pain, as one of the Turian soldiers pushes her into the shuttle before it departs. Karen catches sight of additional Phoenix shuttles arriving and unloading both Phoenix operators and Turian Rebels.