Rising from the Embers of Sera

by thehappy

The people of Sera rebuild, spreading to the stars. Wars will be waged. Peace will be sought. The Coalition has risen from the ashes to take their right to exist in the galaxy. They will survive...no matter the cost.

7. Chapter Six: Bombardment

Well, here I am back with the next chapter! I do apologize for taking so long but that's life. I was unmotivated pretty much all summer and work was just constant 12 hour shifts. I really didn't have any time to enjoy anything which really sucked. And my days off were pretty much used to rest. Hopefully, my updates will increase with winter ha.

Anyway, that's all I really wanted to say.

Chapter 6: Bombardment

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Earth. Vienna, Parliament Building. 2160 A.D. 5th of June (10th of Heat, 422 A.E.)

A woman of fifty two years, Svetlana Molotov was the first Prime Minister of the fully ratified and established System Alliance Parliament, essentially nullifying the old national borders of all Earths countries. Still retaining some of her robust beauty from an earlier part of her life, Svetlana was pleased that she could still turn the head of her husband…and others wherever she went. Practiced in politics for several decades, she had been recognized not only as sensible, but hard working and capable of keeping her composure under pressure. Drawing on a heritage that could be traced back to the Napoleonic Wars, Svetlana was proud of her Russian heritage…despite the fact that Russia officially no longer existed.

But then the same could be said of China, the North American Union, Brazil and every other former nation of Earth. Considering first contact with the Turians barely three years ago, complete unification spread quickly when humanity realized they were not alone.

The last month however had been trying. Not only with the increase in Batarian Piracy near Alliance space, but the whispers of military action.

Those issues had become moot in the last week as not only the horrific mass casualties occurring on the Seran colony of Reach had become known, but the confirmed existence of a second branch of humanity. The news had been staggering, reaching all corners of the Alliance as the Citadel Council bombarded her office with questions about secret colonization projects, Slipspace research, massive warships and unknown laser technologies.

They even accused her government of illegal A.I. research.

All of which had been denied since even the most studied scientists and researchers couldn't come up with a probable reason as to how the Seran's could even exist.

But then Chairman Diaz had released the Coalitions history, the knowledge traveling faster than light speed across known space.

Massaging her temples, Prime Minister Svetlana wished desperately to forget the historical images of Seran history she had been assessing. The Pendulum Wars were horrific by themselves. A conflict of unification that lasted nearly eighty straight years and consumed Sera in unending warfare that saw a death toll of over two hundred million.

Then the true nightmare began with Emergence Day. Drones…Brumaks and Corpsers…Reavers, Berserkers and Bloodmounts…the rift worm.

Svetlana shuddered at the mere thought of that monstrosity. Even with how old the video files were…she couldn't remove the images of Seran Gears almost drowning in blood.

The Coalition had burned their own homeworld from orbit to stop those horrors. Those desperate actions resulted in ultimate victory for the Serans…but the cost was astronomical.

Twenty three million of their species survived that conflict with the Locust Horde, leaving over six billion dead and a planet in ruins.

There was nothing in Earth's history to compare to such loss and destruction. Even the combined carnage of the world wars didn't even measure up to the Pendulum Wars, let alone the Locust War.

Of course, the public went crazy. Panic buying and riots in nearly one hundred of the major cities had stressed alliance military and police forces to the breaking point. There was already a group of activists demanding seismologists and geologists to begin conducting subterranean surveys to ensure the safety of Earth from a second Locust horde.

It was utter nonsense. But humans became illogical when they were afraid.

This didn't even include the rampant calls for war against the Batarian's for genocide against their Seran Cousins. Or fringe, leftist groups demanding complete unification of all humans under the Alliance Banner. Which included the Coalition of Ordered Government's.

Brushing away strands of platinum blonde hair, the Prime Minster finally looked up at the other people sitting in the board room with her. The room itself was furnished pleasantly with walls painted a beige white mixed with stained wood. Sunlight poured through multiple windows, their transparency showing the skyline of Vienna while the central table itself was a mold of Bayja wood from Eden Prime. Several holographic emitters lined the walls, considering that it was foolish to have everybody travel to Earth the moment a meeting was called. Granted, those present only represented half of her inner cabinet and advisors, but it would suffice.

Admiral Hood of the Alliance Third Fleet. A North American and the only officer that had successfully fought the Turian navy to a stalemate. Something that garnered high respect from the Council species.

Bashir Yaqquid from India, Director of Civilian Safety and Rights. A man with striking dark hair beginning to turn silver at the temples but still retaining his youthful vigor despite being forty eight years old.

The last person was actually a hologram, Ambassador Ichika Kojima who was now living on the Citadel in the Embassy with twenty of her staff…the first humans to live on the massive space station.

There were four other holographic people in the room, ranging from the Minister of Education to the Director of Colonial Affairs, but that was all she could get on short notice…especially considering the ongoing riots and panic.

"Alright. Let's get started. I'm meeting with Parliament in an hour to vote on a declaration of war against the Batarian Hegemony, but this unofficial session is to help us all gain an overall picture of the CoG, their possible reactions, and the stance of the Citadel Council" Turning to Admiral Hood, she gave a nod of permission.

"As I'm sure you're all aware, the Alliance Navy has been assessing the military capabilities of the Coalition. In terms of infantry, they are heavily armored and well trained. Coupled with their natural size being slightly greater than our own, its believable that some of the Gears could actually stand on equal footing with the Krogan. However, from what the Asari told us, we believe they don't have biotics or personal shielding, so we do have some slight advantages. Artillery and armor is most likely on par with most militaries"

"What about their navy?"

Admiral Hood folded his hands, placing both elbows on top of the hard wood table. "For the smaller classes of ships such as corvettes and destroyers, we're about evenly matched in firepower. But that advantage disappears with their capital and sub-capital ships. They can absorb horrendous punishment and dish out even greater damage. Massed Fusion warheads, Thermic lance rounds and those energy beams could break even Turian formations. That massed firepower is why a single squadron of theirs managed to cripple an entire Batarian fleet in the Reach system. And the slipspace drives? Nobody has a clue how they managed that, but I'm sure everybody is working on that already"

"What about the size of their navy? Any idea how many ships they have?"

Admiral Hood spread his hands in a questioning manner. "They haven't given any unit designations to the Asari or anybody. The Admiral that liberated Nueva Thessa only gave his name and rank then fell back to Pandora"

Svetlana glanced around the room. "What about population? Industrial capacity or colony locations?"

Ambassador Ichika Kojima cleared her throat, garnering attention as her hologram flickered lightly, sending a sheen of blue across her body. "I've had the embassy staff working with several Salarians and Asari on determining those questions. Unfortunately, when the Serans released their historical files, they purged any and all data pertaining to settlement of colonies, population growth, technical expertise on technology or industry. With the exception of the Reach system, nobody has an inclination of their size or population"

"What's the best estimate of the Council and your embassy staff?"

Kojima looked down, picking up a data pad. "Based on human population growth patterns on Earth, the time it took to build their first interstellar vessel and other factors, the Salarians estimate four to six colony systems, a population of eight hundred million to one point two billion across the Coalition and naval forces approaching three thousand vessels"

"So, they're smaller than us?"

"Possibly Prime Minister. But this is still an estimate based on guesswork on standard growth patterns. We do know that the CoG started a massive repopulation effort after the locust war so their numbers could be higher"

"Thank you, Ambassador. Now, what about their likely actions concerning the Batarians?"

"Based on how they fought the Locust and those lambent parasites? The eventual counterattack will be bloody, brutal and swift" Admiral Hood explained before continuing. "Those four eyed bastards just killed twenty to thirty million humans and tried to enslave a whole colony. If I was in charge of the CoG and just lost millions of people, I'd do the same to the Batarians…probably burn a few colonies and destroy several fleets to cripple them. Of course, our new found cousins are also fighting another species so an offensive might take months or years to occur"

"Admiral, do you think the Alliance should go to war over this? After all, the Batarian's didn't attack any Alliance colonies"

"If it were just us, probably not. But the Turians and Asari are already bringing up fleets and troops. Joining the conflict now not only shows our dedication to stopping a hostile species, but will increase our station with the Council. However…" Hood paused, assessing his inner thoughts. "If we were to stand by and wait and let the council fight it out and only join in the last few battles, the Turians would see it as dishonorable. Basically, we would be 'Johnny come lately'

Bashir took that time to speak up. "Let's not forget that despite the panic riots and demands for assurances our planet doesn't have a secondary race of genocidal reptilians below the surface, current public opinion is in high favor of joining the war. Not only could we take desired Batarian territory, but the moral obligation to answer such blatant disregard for human life is needed. Plus, based on Seran society, the Alliance going to war against a shared enemy will increase their opinion of us. They value strength, merit, and hard work…despite their borderline fascism"

"One more thing, Prime Minister" Kojima stated, her visage giving a small ripple.

"What is it?"

"This is just conjecture, but some of my staff have been trying to get opinions of the Seran's from normal citizens here on the Citadel. It's unofficial, but the Turians and Krogan are already forming a very high opinion about the CoG, especially the actions of their ancestors. And it goes without saying that Coalition technologies are of great interest not only to the Salarians, but all known species. Developing a mutual amount of respect and understanding between our two branches of humanity needs to happen"

"Alright. Thank you all for coming. Admiral Hood?" The Prime Minister glanced his way, her eyes and demeanor serious.

"Yes?'

"Move our closest fleet toward our shared border with the Hegemony. I'll pursue the declaration of war, but even if it doesn't pass, those slavers will no doubt try to force the border with state sponsored pirates. Make sure those forces are on high alert"

"Right away, Prime Minister"

Standing up as Admiral Hood left the board room, Svetlana Molotov made her way to the Parliament chamber to ask for a declaration of war against the Batarians.

It passed with an overwhelming majority of 178 in favor and 17 against.

The Systems Alliance was going to war once again.

System FH-82G 25th of Heat, 422 A.E. 2nd Subjugator Fleet

Fleetmaster Ki'nav sat in his elevated command chair, going over the latest reports as his fleet slid silently through the dead system of five airless worlds, dirty ice asteroids, and an intense red dwarf star that bathed his bridge and fleet in a harsh red. Scowling in displeasure, the Klor'vian of noble ancestry knew that the Supreme Priest Y'larv and the church were correct into giving him this vitally important mission.

Still, he had a great desire to be part of the retribution fleets that would avenge the slaughter of the Bo'link colony and her millions of innocents. To think that mere vermin had the audacity to attack the chosen race of god was insulting.

"At least that swamp farmer, Bo'klar and his 3rd Fleet will not gain any glory. He is to defend the home world and our most vital colonies along with the newly reorganized 4th fleet. I still have high favor with Y'larv, after all, I cut the deepest into the Seran territory" Thinking for a moment as his throat sac turned a soft purple, the naval officer silently cursed. That loss over the ice world had been a harsh lesson, a lesson that he would not soon forget.

Setting down the data pad with another annoyed rumble of his throat sac, Ki'nav stood and approached the tactical holo display table. Several junior officers momentarily eyed him, but made no move to approach as the Fleetmaster highlighted the current system.

Icons of green glowed among the dark expanse, nearly two thousand and fifty in total as the full corvette fleet flew through the night along side the main battle fleet. Tiny, cheap to build, and willing to die, they would make the perfect opening salvo against the vermin Seran's. Of course, the extra fifty vessels were comprised of supply ships, a few repair vessels, and invasion transports for the infantry.

After all, there would be no point in locating the Seran worlds if they could not be liberated for their god.

Zooming out, Ki'nav quickly studied the distant border of the Klor'vian Caliphate and the total territory. Shaped like a widening claw at the base of the Eastern Galactic arm, Bo'link had been the southern most colony, the youngest of the eight colonized worlds. Granted, two more had been discovered in the last five years, but they had minimal populations at this time, hardly worthwhile in terms of industry or troops.

Reverting his gaze to the Bo'link system, Ki'nav knew that the newly appointed Grand Fleetmaster Tril'va of the 1st and 5th Subjugator Fleets, handpicked by the church would lead the reinvasion and destruction of the Coalition in the next three days.

Which brought him to his vital mission.

Simply put, the 2nd Fleet was to travel westward, then south and strike at the presumed heart of Seran space. With most of the vermin fleets facing imminent defeat at the hands of Tril'va, they would crumble among the rot of their pollution and failure.

By this time next year, the Caliphate would be in the final stages of exterminating this vile species.

A sensor technician stirred at his station, his brown and green splotched skin sticky from humidity. Rereading the data, the younger officer spoke up. "Fleetmaster! Sensors have detected radio transmissions"

Ki'nav whipped his head around, already marching over to the station with his normal sneer of arrogance. "Seran transmissions? A vital world ripe for salvation?"

The sensor technician gulped deeply, then shook his head. "Unknown Fleetmaster. It's a garbled mess of unknown words"

"Pinpoint the source, now"

Typing furiously across glowing, green keys, the younger officer finally achieved a triangulation of the source. "Two hundred nineteen light years away, bearing is galactic South-West of our current position"

Ki'nav straightened his back, the desires of Klortha filling his heart and soul. "A fresh vermin world ready for salvation. The fleets will prepare for immediate FTL"

The pilots began plotting a course, haste on their minds before one spoke up several minutes later. "Fleetmaster, travel time is approximately nine and a half days"

Ki'nav returned to his chair, his clawed hands digging into the armrests with a desire of conquest. Exterminating the enemy would be glorious. "Excellent. Upon emergence from FTL, we will commence immediate attack. Prepare yourselves to fulfill Klortha's will"

"Yes, Fleetmaster!"

Within the hour, nearly two thousand Caliphate ships entered FTL, their engines burning a harsh green among the silent void as they left the dead system, eager to resume the war of righteousness for their god.

System 122-LHb2 28th of Heat. (188 light years north of the Blaze Colony System and the Northern Border)

Admiral Alya Carmine studied the dispositions of the 4th fleet in this barren system, her forces waiting in the swirling pinks and yellows of a gaseous cloud of space dust that covered half this system of irradiated rocks. Anvil Gate floated silently at the head of the central squadron, supported by two Dreadnaughts and a supporting force of destroyers, battlecruisers, and Cruisers in conjunction with their lone fleet carrier, Azure Ocean.

The remaining three squadrons of her fleet floated among the tendrils of gases in defensive spheres, their elemental makeup excellent for disrupting sensors and targeting computers of Toad ships. After all, her destroyer pickets had picked them up less than an hour ago, moving across a broad front to bring war to the COG.

Expanding the holo screen, she knew that the 1st fleet could render assistance in approximately four hours if the need arose…or vice versa. The 2nd had stayed behind at Blaze, safeguarding the transports and the invasion armies that they would need to carry this war further.

They were technically reinforcements, but Admiral Carmine would start a withering withdrawal of attrition before leaving the border bare. Plus, leaving all those transports and that colony bare of any naval warships would be suicidally foolish.

Still, she couldn't help but feel the unholy fury at the Batarians and the genocide of Reach. Not only had the death toll climbed to nearly thirty million in the last few weeks as rescue forces continued the search for survivors, but their attack had completely thrown their invasion into disarray.

"If it hadn't been for those slaving four eyed butchers, We'd have the initiative and be invading Toad One right now. Instead, those religious maniacs managed to launch a new invasion force, putting us on the defensive once more. Not only that, but Trescu and the 5th needs to guard the door to Reach"

"And forget reinforcements from the 3rd" she muttered, knowing that a lone fleet needed to protect the interior of Coalition space.

"Did you say something, Admiral?" Sam asked, the capital ships A.I. standing on a nearby pedestal attached to the tactical holo table. Modeled after the locust war hero, her visage was a soft blue with lines of code running along her form.

Turns out, Sam can have a wicked sense of humor when she wants.

"Just thinking out loud. How long until the Toads reach this system?"

"Thirty eight minutes. The destroyer pickets are informing us of forces totaling twenty four hundred to three thousand ships. At least two full fleets"

"Lucky us" Alya muttered with sarcasm before straightening her uniform. Which was wasted energy as she retook her command chair. Crossing her right leg over her left, the admiral pondered recent events. Mainly, the existence of another race of humans across the galaxy. While no doubt interesting to scholars and academics, along with much of the civilian population, the news was pointless. Not only were they too far to assist in this conflict, but their ships and weapons were inferior.

There was no doubt in Alya Carmine's mind that she could destroy the entire alliance navy with her fleet alone and take Earth.

As for the Citadel Council? Who knows how events would play out with them. Right now, they had no means of reaching Coalition worlds, and she would do her best to keep it that way…after they exterminated the Caliphate.

Looking out the main window at the swirling gases, Alya knew in the next hour, it would be filled with dying ships and weapons fire.

"Ten minutes until enemy forces arrive, Admiral"

"Call to battle-stations" Carmine ordered, her words immediately followed by a blaring klaxon while the bridge became bathed in red. Across her fleet, the crews made ready for combat while Azure Ocean launched its strikefighters and bombers, the tiny craft rushing toward the gaseous clouds border.

Fleetmaster Tril'va's flagship, Nesha'tov arrived in the gaseous, irradiated system of three protoplanets and a singular, heat blasted world. Emerging from FTL in a flash of green, his fleet along with nearly five hundred suicide corvettes arrived en masse over the next few minutes, filling the void between the celestial bodies.

"Fleetmaster. Communications from Sub-fleetmaster of the 5th fleet indicate his arrival at the neighboring star system"

Tril'va nodded slowly, his dark green scales almost emerald in their noble sheen. Wearing garments of brown and light greens along with his command sash covered in minor jewels and medals, the officer slowly stood. Older than most of his counterparts, the Caliphate officer knew this was the highest honor after the Supreme Priest pulled him out of near retirement. The church had recognized decades of faithful service not only to their people, but their god as well.

It was no surprise he had been appointed this post.

"Push the corvettes in a defensive envelope around the fleet. They are expendable. And locate the Seran fleet! They will no doubt know of our arrival soon"

Sensors swept the system from dozens of vessels, each fulfilling the task to locate the hated Seran's. The task didn't take long as they concentrated on the distant gas cloud halfway across the system.

"Fleetmaster! Sensors can't get an accurate number, but the signature belongs to the C.O.G! They hope to ambush us!" an officer shouted from the tactical holo-display. Bringing up the swirling mass of space dust, Tril'va breath rasped as his throat sac brightened to a lighter green.

He had to admit he would probably have done the same in their place, but their attempts had failed. "Send in the corvette fleet. None are to retreat. Once they break the Seran's, we will bombard them from distance and destroy them as they advance" Looking down at the display, he dragged a light pen to the lone planet roiling with lava flows in the second orbit. "The main fleet will hold above this planet with one squadron staying hidden behind the world. No ship is to enclose for that will bring immediate destruction"

He had studied the battles of those first six months and could only silently judge the foolishness of some. The Serans had displayed superior firepower and ship survivability, along with a tenacity to wage battle to the last moment. Enclosing with them once again would not only be foolish, but hasten the destruction of valuable crews and vessels. That didn't even take into account their engine capabilities away from gravity fields. No, Tril'va would make them fight toward him through a gauntlet of destruction and fire.

The green icons of the corvettes began to move, spreading out to ensure none took others in destruction.

"All ships prepare for battle" he rasped in a confident manner, retaking his position on his elevated chair. Clasping his gnarled hands, the reptilian waited as his fleet moved.

Alya Carmine sighed in disappointment as her attempt to ambush failed before it began. Asking to face a foolish commander had been too much, and this one seemed to think clearly. Having already ordered her vessels to leave the gaseous cloud, her destroyers and battlecruisers took the lead.

"Stay at the border of the nebula. If we need to retreat to slipspace, we can use it as sensor cover"

"Admiral, approximately five hundred vessels approaching in a staggered wall of advance. Unknown class" Sam reported simply, her code rippling as the enemy drew closer across the silent vacuum. Crossing her arms over her chestpiece, the tiny A.I. surged through the fleet, increasing targeting efficiency by 4.8%

Seran Destroyers and Battlecruisers fired the first salvo, a rippling of fusion torpedoes and driver rounds. Nearly fourteen hundred fusion warheads flew through the silent night, already following the massed slugs to meet the enemy.

The Toad Corvette crews didn't waver, each launching both of their plasma torpedoes upon target lock with a Coalition vessel. Even after the launch, none turned away for their god demanded the death of the vile polluters from existence.

Defensive battery fire sprang to life from the encroaching corvettes, a wall of green laser pulses that began to claim hundreds of the torpedoes as the Seran weapons bore thorough the rippling fire. Battlecruiser slugs tore into the front ranks first, smashing down the minimal shields with ease. Some broke through the softer armor, reaching the plasma payload that resulted in forty seven vessels blooming out of existence in a flash of light. One hundred eighteen fusion warheads made it through the wall of defensive laser fire, flying hard and fast into the corvette line to wreak even more destruction. Another hundred eighteen vessels died in less than two minutes, consumed among fusion suns, but the remainder bore on.

After all, the crews had all accepted their deaths prior to battle. Now it was up to the remainder to ensure enemy suffering.

Plasma torpedoes flew through intercepting and overlapping fields of laser fire, only one out of every ten making it thorough to close with the Seran fleet as their masters quickly followed with engines burning critical. The window of opportunity was small and they couldn't waste a single moment.

Roiling green plasma detonated, burning against failing destroyer shields and melting the armors below. Five Battlecruisers also bore the brunt of war, aft sections brimming with unholy heat as bulkheads, metalworks, armor and crew died in a consumption of energy. The losses among the destroyers were heavier as thirty eight of the smaller warships cracked and broke under the bombardment, their thinner armor unable to withstand the titanic forces. Of course, those plasma warheads enacted a large suffering of wounded ships, crippling nearly another eighty as gases, plasma fires and unfortunate crews were pulled into the harsh vacuum of space.

Sam compiled the likely travel paths of the tiny vessels in an instant, her horror growing greater as her code rippled with calculations. "Admiral! Those are suicide craft! Collisions in thirty seconds!"

"Defensive maneuvers, now! All ships fire on those corvettes!" Alya bellowed, immediately cursing herself for the mistake that would no doubt cost untold lives. The Cruisers fired three seconds later, a volley of sixteen thermic slugs burning bright through the deathly silence of space.

They were hardly alone as the main battleline surged forward, including Anvil Gate as her engines flared bright. 30kg slugs flew harsh and fast, a firing rate every five seconds from extreme range homing in on the maniacal toad vessels that bore through the murderous fire. Carmines old Dreadnaught, Ashes of Victory fired twin beams of Hammer of Dawn fire, burning two more of those vile ships from existence before her new commander began a constant bombardment of accelerated slugs.

The Seran bombardment was brutal, claiming half the remaining suicide forces in those vital thirty seconds, but the corvettes raced toward their intended targets with unwavering dedication and bravery. Wounded ships were targeted, the five battlecruisers taking three suicide vessels each as the broken and bleeding destroyers met a similar fate.

Vessel met vessel, the plasma payloads instantly detonating in expanding spheres of nuclear energy. The wounded Battlecruiser, Havel Forest broke apart at the spine, her stern and bow spinning away as plasma fire continued to eat at the dead hull-work, killing the entire crew in a flash of fire.

All along the CoG fleet, vessels died under the suicide runs, claiming thousands of lives in mere minutes.

Then, it was over. Seven Battlecruisers along with ninety-three destroyers had been blown out of existence, nearly all lost with all hands. Another sixty three vessels had managed to escape complete destruction, including the B.C. Applegate and Typhon Island, but they were gutted wrecks that would need to be towed back to Oceania and her orbital yards.

Alya clasped her hands, a look of calm fury crossing her beautiful features. "All damaged ships are to fall back to the nebula cloud, 4th squadron is to assist with search and rescue" Breathing deeply, Alya pushed the losses toward the back of her mind. Death in war was expected, but the Toads had almost pulled a fast one on her, an action that resulted in over fifty thousand naval dead in the first salvo of this resumed war. Or in terms of percentages, nearly ten percent of her command. Standing up, she marched over to tactical, studying the current system and the dispositions. Her fleet was already moving, picking up the broken pieces and reorganizing to fill in the gaps.

Sam flickered on the pedestal, her frown and cocked stance practically matching images of the long dead war hero. "Admiral, the Toad fleet is still in orbit around the planet across the system"

"You would think they would have charged into battle with their suicide corvettes, sow even more losses among us"

"it's likely this commander has assessed our Slipspace limitations near gravity wells, after all, it's been a full year since the war started. He could be waiting for us to come charging at him in hopes that we could fall into a battle of his choosing.

"I don't suppose you could hack into their systems? Maybe trigger the self destruct for their whole fleet?" Alya asked hopefully, already knowing the answer.

Sam shrugged. "The distance is too great. And most likely, they have manual overrides as well for such a situation" Looking outside for a moment, Alya considered several courses of action. "Charging in straight ahead would be foolish. Those plasma torpedoes are new and were nearly as effective as those damned corvettes. It stands to reason they've upped their plasma weapon capabilities"

"Admiral! I'm getting a transmission from the 1st fleet! They're fully engaged with another Toad formation and reporting over thirty percent casualties!" The young comms officer reported, her auburn hair taking on a sheen of red from the crimson lights of battle stations. "They're reporting suicide craft as well!"

"Display the system" Looking down as the holo-table shifted, the admiral instantly picked up the location of Admiral Deshenko's forces.

122-LHb3 was definitely more crowded with seven planets, an asteroid belt, and an outer gas giant with twenty three moons dancing in its own little system. The 1st fleet was among the gas giant, fighting defensively as the estimated Toad fleet attacked along a broad sphere. Essentially, the 1st was pinned, unable to extract due to the massive gravity well of the purple shrouded gas giant.

"They're unable to retreat, Admiral. If they enter slipspace that close to such a gravity field, half those ships could be ripped apart or go completely off course and land inside a moon or planet"

"I'm well aware of the problems our drives have with gravity wells, Sam" Alya snapped as her mind quickly made fresh avenues for this campaign.

Unfolding events forced her decision. If the 1st fell back or was destroyed, then she'd be surrounded and picked apart if the Caliphate fleets rejoined forces. "Order the fourth squadron to fall back to Oceania for repair, they're combat ineffective anyway at this point. The remainder of the fleet will jump to slipspace and target…here" Pointing to the void past the gas giant and well in the empty void of the outer system, it would place her fleet directly behind the Toads…and ensure victory.

"Assuming our nearby friends don't follow" Retaking her seat, Alya Carmine frowned deeply. "Take us further into the nebula. I want our departure hidden from those bastards. Let's make sure that by day's end, they'll be retreating"

"Yes ma'am" her bridge crew chorused as a fresh course was plotted. Ten minutes later, the 4th fleet entered the hole in space, slipping through as the war-ravaged 4th squadron withdrew to Oceania, her command gutted as the broken and slagged survivors were towed by their remaining brethren to safety.

122-LHb3 System

Situated 7.8 light years away, the neighboring system took over four hours to reach. Four hours that the 1st fleet fought for its life. But just because Admiral Deshenko was outnumbered, did not mean he was a fool. He knew reinforcements were coming and had hidden the remaining six hundred and thirteen ships of his command in the storm wracked atmosphere of the gas giant. While not ideal, it would let his ships conduct minor repairs, recharge shields, and reload.

Especially since Admiral Carmine was less than ten minutes out. Once she arrived to fight the Toads, he would pounce, breaking orbit to wedge the genocidal reptilians between a hammer and anvil.

Let the overzealous toad commander search and prod, his sensors would find nothing among the ion storms, lightning, and turbulent gases of the massive planet at the far west of the system.

Vice-Fleetmaster Ha'lek scowled in anger, his throat sac a scarlet red as his ships entered the gas giant system. His initial gains had been excellent, the suicide craft a wonderful surprise for those damned Serans and their filth. Claiming nearly one hundred twenty vessels in the opening salvo, he immediately charged to bring them to destruction.

Turns out, they were not as rattled as he had hoped. They had fought a defensive action, slowly pulling further backward as their ships kept up an unyielding fire against his own. Then, like weakling cowards, they had fled into the turbulent storms of the gas giant, blocking any attempts to target or determine their location.

It was maddening that such a vile species had come to claim the stars and launch such a war against the life loving people of the Caliphate.

A technician stirred at sensors, his splotchy scales of brown and red glistening with the pleasant humidity of the bridge. Peering closely at the sensor reports of several outlaying picket vessels, his throat sac went a deep azure blue, almost turning purple in dread and fear.

"Fleetmaster! Spatial ruptures three million miles behind us! Just outside the gravity well of the planet and moons!"

"What!? How many!?" Ha'lek bellowed with a harsh snarl, his teeth bared as his own throat sac turned a vile crimson in climbing rage.

The technician turned, slowly blinking as the vertical lids of his yellowed eyes closed and opened. "Seven to eight hundred anomalies!" He fed more commands into sensors and external cameras of the flagship, the technician feeling a sliver of worry as the enemy vessels emerged from the roiling blues of that unknown dimension. Sensors drank in the measurements of the CoG flagship, a monstrous warship over two miles in length as more and more vessels entered normal space en masse. "They're emerging and pushing toward us past the fourth and twelfth moons!"

Ha'lek felt his blood chill, knowing instantly that Tril'va's plan to keep the other fleet had failed. Instead of being beaten or destroyed, the hated vermin had managed to withdraw, only to come here and steal his victory.

"Sensors are detecting movement from the gas giant! Emerging ships from atmosphere!"

The large gas giant flanked his fleet to the left, hovering a million miles away as three smaller moons remained tidally locked upon his right flank . Even if he ordered immediate FTL, the travel route would take them straight into the planet or one of the moons, instantly destroying his forces.

A fresh idea invaded his mind, something to ensure survival as he grinned, his teeth a razor smile.

"Third squadron is to launch an immediate attack against the Serans, including movement of sacrifice to our beloved god. Remaining vessels will turn and move between the eighth and ninth moons, laying down a constant broadside of fire"

Approximately two hundred vessels broke away from the turning main fleet, many of them obsolete destroyers. Two dozen frigates were with them along with two Heavy Cruisers, giving the crews a fighting chance to complete their last tasks.

Ha'lek's battleship fell back into the center of the remaining fleet, each ship staggered at different elevations in the void between worlds. Engines flared green, burning hot as the ships began to lay down an extreme range broadside of mass driver rounds.

Many would miss, but it would be enough to allow escape against the Coalition.

His tiny destroyers surged forward, unleashing hundreds of plasma torpedoes toward the foe. Burning from the external racks, those crews knew their sacrifice was needed for their god…they spared no munitions. Supporting them were the heavy cruisers and frigates, the former already belching roiling blobs of the super heated material to soar across the distance.

Laser batteries interdicted torpedo salvoes from both sides, claiming hundreds as they burned up harmlessly in the void. But, by the law of averages, some would always make their way past ship defenses. Coalition ships burned, their shields failing as plasma heated the armor, eating through like a cancer to unleash humans to vacuum, their bodies half burnt and tumbling among spilling gases. Miniature suns of fusion and plasma fire consumed lighter ships on both sides, the vessels becoming half melted slag.

Void and Solace, twin battlecruisers took plasma warheads to the shields, the barriers overloading as Caliphate shells began smashing the armor to splinters. A mass of plasma energy struck Void in the next ten seconds, burning through the forward sections and melting her main gun. Turning broadside in conjunction with her sister vessel, the twin ships unleashed twenty four medium range warheads into the maelstrom of battle, targeting a charging cruiser even as Void took horrendous damage, killing nearly 28% of her crew.

Five of those warheads made it through the pulses of laser fire, striking the pointed bow of their tormentor to explode in a rippling ruin of fusion fire, slagging half the vessel…which then took a Thermic Lance round through the spine, finishing the warship.

But the Seran cruisers and their large capital ships continued to bore the hammer blows of impacting shells and bursting warheads, their shields taking the damage among roiling splashes of rippling power. Desperate to destroy the charging ships, Hammer of Dawn fire burned through the night, searing lances of heat that broke through the duo of Caliphate cruisers, punching holes straight through the hulls as armor burned and cracked under the titanic forces.

One cruiser simply disintegrated under the combined might of four super heated beams of light, the orangish yellow column of heat breaking the vessel in half straight from the bow to stern…a loss of all Klor'vian hands.

Slugs ranging from 7kg to over 30kg slew across the battlespace, smashing down shields and armors of both sides, enacting a butcher's bill among both races as Fleetmaster Ha'lek pushed his forces past the first moon. If he could destroy at least one of the fleets or even remove it from action, there was still a chance to regroup and salvage the invasion.

"Prepare for FTL!" The fleetmaster screamed in violent fury. A near miss from a thermic lance grazed the flagships shields, the barriers flaring in protest as his vessel rippled with outgoing fire at the vermin. Taking a worried glance at the holo table, his face formed into a snarl. The second CoG fleet was closing rapidly, and based on past reports, would enter weapons range within the minute. Almost willing his ships faster, the lead elements began to slide behind the second moon, shielding them from any incoming fire.

"Admiral. We'll be in weapons range in forty eight seconds. Strike craft will be entering bombing range in twenty seconds" Sam reported, her code rippling as Anvil Gate's sensors recorded and observed the battle.

"Keep with them! The more we kill now the faster this war ends!"

"I'm feeding optimal targeting solutions to all vessels. Chances of friendly fire is 2.9% against the 1st Fleet"

She heard the information, digesting it quickly as her fleet burned hard and fast across vacuum, hoping to claim Caliphate ships before they escaped the battle.

Lieutenant Miguel Santiago flew his bomber through vacuum, passing over one of the moons as the distant gas giant glowed with its swirls of colors. It was beautiful in many regards, but a wandering gaze could get him killed.

Fifth in line of the 'box' his bomber was one of eighty, spread out among four flights escorted by the strike fighters. Angling downward through the void of space, the tiny craft flew toward the enemy ships.

"Looks like they're trying to make FTL" The bombardier, Hannah Ober observed as they entered the final stages of the attack run.

"Then let's show them the folly of their ways" Santiago replied with a cocky grin before it faded into all business. "Target?"

"Confirmed and locked. Cruiser class"

Santiago hit a few buttons above the control stick, confirming the target lock as they continued downward in a dive. Unleashing the safeties of the warheads, he flew straight toward the armored top of his target. Just one of hundreds of ships spread out in a stretching column of supporting fire, he knew they would have to get in and out very quickly.

Defensive laser batteries sprang to life five seconds later, claiming thirteen bombers and seventeen strike craft as the attack bore in. Their existence flared for just a brief moment, nothing but silent screams as the survivors made their attack runs.

"Fire!" the man shouted in light glee, happy to sow destruction among the genocidal beasts. After all, he had lost two cousins and an aunt at Oceania. Four missiles sprinted away in a stagger, joined by nearly another hundred forty. The strikefighters launched as well five seconds later to help sow death, despite having smaller payloads.

The weapons bore in as the craft pulled a high-g turn, desperate to escape the field and regroup for another run.

Another five bombers and seven strike craft were snuffed out of existence, but their deaths would not be in vain.

Seventy one Caliphate ships took the brunt of the attack, many against larger capital ships. Shields flared and died under the hammer blows of fusion fire, only to have armor and hulls smashed and splintered by the following warheads. Vacuum sucked helpless crew out into space, Klor'vian's dying in silent screams as their ships bucked and broke under brutal hammer blows.

All told, fifty three ships died between those moons, their remains tumbling slowly as their comrades prepared to flee.

Anvil Gate surged forward, leading the fleet as the seconds ticked down for practical weapons range. Flanked to the far left by 650,000 miles was one of the moons, covered in a layer of ice and whisps of an argon atmosphere. Beautiful and serene, it was almost out of place as the nearby battle continued to rage. Alya was pleased with the strike, but the 1st was getting pounded horribly.

Sam nodded five seconds later, her code rippling a light green for a moment. "We are in weapons range, Admiral. However, most of the enemy fleet is already hidden by the moons"

"Then let's kill those that we can. Priority targets are capital ships…burn them from the sky!" She finished wolfishly, the opportunity to kill fleeing ships not to be ignored. If her enemy counterpart was so intent on fleeing, then she would make him regret it.

A massed wall of Hammer of Dawn fire, thermic lances, fusion torpedoes and standard M.A.C. rounds tore silently across the vacuum of space, boring toward the exposed rear of the Caliphate forces. The quad-beam weapon of Anvil Gate found a Plasma Cruiser, the smaller warship simply unable to withstand such firepower from the two-mile length monitor.

Burning through those nuclear engines, the ruin and carnage must have been catastrophic as the high energy beams melted bulkheads, incinerated crew, and eventually melted through the bridge in an exit of uncompromising heat. For a moment, the enemy ship floated…then promptly exploded as the feedback of breeched nuclear engines failed, consuming all hands.

Three seconds later, the M.A.C. fired a thirty kilogram shell at the exposed flank of a light cruiser that had turned to foolishly fight. The shields flared green and overloaded within fifteen seconds as Anvil Gate, along with the twin Cruisers Mercy and Gavol Lake pounded the ship with Thermic Lance rounds. Armor burned and broke, the hull breaking in half as the two ends drifted away, disgorging the dead and dying among the silent vacuum.

Alya Carmine watched dispassionately as the enemy rear staggered and bled, those trailing ships dying by the dozens under her wrathful fire. Keeping pace, she constantly hammered them among exploding fusion warheads and energy weapons as her ships kept up a constant fire and bombardment.

In barely two minutes, her forces had targeted and killed nearly one hundred Caliphate ships as the survivors fed energy into their engines.

The familiar surge of nuclear energies blared against the 4th fleet's sensors, the enemy going to FTL as the main body of vessels fled the system.

"Damn! How many escaped?"

"Rough estimates place their remaining numbers between six hundred and six hundred fifty. No doubt they'll gather with the other fleet" Sam reported with distaste as her code rippled once more. "Admiral, twenty three Caliphate ships are making suicide runs against the 1st fleet" the A.I. informed neutrally, knowing that it was up to their comrades in arms to stop them.

Turning toward a nearby screen, external cameras and sensors fed visual data to the bridge crew, show casing the last gasps of that separate battle among the gas giant and her swirling storms.

Nine of those charging, air leaking vessels died across the void, leaving twelve to close in a last, desperate attempt to destroy human vessels of the 1st fleet.

Hull met hull, consuming two cruisers, three battle cruisers and eight destroyers in nuclear fire as all hands died in a silent scream.

Then…there was silence as the slagged ruins of hulls, ships and frozen corpses tumbled among the hollow light of the gas giant. Admiral Deshenko's command had been through the grinder, losing a total of three hundred and twelve ships to plasma fire, horrendous barrages and suiciding vessels. Another two hundred and seventy three were in various states of damage. Some minimal while other vessels bled atmosphere, their armor buckled and bent like ragged wounds as the heat of dying plasma fires ate at bulkheads.

It had been a bloody day.

"Admiral. 1st fleet is requesting help with search and rescue. They're reporting nearly fifty percent casualties"

"Do it. And spread out some destroyer pickets around the system. The Toads could decide on a counter attack at any time" Alya warned, her features a cold look of accepting thousands of casualties.

Fleetmaster Tril'va had failed to destroy the Seran fleets. Fleets that had grown to match their numbers and wield devastating firepower.

Sensor scans had been hectic from Ha'lek during his withdrawal, but the new flagships the enemy flew were terrifyingly monstrous. His dreadnaught would be hard pressed to defeat such a behemoth of firepower. Something the church would need to be apprised of immediately.

Tril'va hated to admit it, but a small part of him was relieved he didn't have to face such weapons today. "I wonder what new innovations this enemy will come up with? They seem very suited to warfare considering the historical files we've captured. Ultimate victory will not only be costly, but possibly several years away…the Seran's are ferocious" Blinking slowly as the humidity of his bridge made the air thick and moist, Fleetmaster Tril'va re-assessed the tactical display with a cold and calculating gaze.

It was a draw, neither side gaining serious advantage. And a costly one at that.

While Ha'lek had survived the battle, his fleet had taken nearly forty percent losses during their extraction. This didn't even include the one thousand corvettes that had started the battle among their forces.

All told, over 1,500 hundred vessels of all types and classes had been destroyed today…which totaled nearly fifty percent of the whole invasion force. A harsh loss of forces for dead and useless star systems.

"Fleetmaster? What are your orders?"

"The Supreme Priest might call for my head, but pushing forward will only lead to greater losses for no gain. The corvette fleet did achieve some success, but not enough with those numbers. We might have to alter tactics. I'll also have to inform them of those new super vessels the enemy uses. We must counter them quickly before they overwhelm us"

"Fleetmaster?"

Tril'va breathed, finally recognizing the question. "All ships are to return to the Le'hak system. Pass those orders to Fleetmaster Ha'lek as well"

"Should we not return to Bo'link, Fleetmaster? The vermin might carry out another unjustified bombardment of our people"

Tril'va ignored the heavy, church rhetoric, knowing anything he said could be used against him. One did not reach his age and station by running his mouth against the church. "No. Le'hak has the necessary repair yards for our damaged ships. Now carry out my orders. If the Supreme Priest Y'larv wishes to change my decision, I will of course, be happy to carry out the will of Klorta"

The Klor'vian nodded, calculating a fresh course.

"Bo'link will be lost in the future…but then, in a way, it already was when the Seran's bombed it into ruin. But if they want it, they'll have to kill nearly a million and a half of our re-equipped garrison forces first"

Watching through the window as his flagship entered FTL and its swirling greens and whites, Tril'va knew that events could become increasingly dangerous for his people if they weren't careful.

Valae System. 1st of Bloom

If Fleetmaster Ki'nav had learned anything from his battles with the Serans, it was to be cautious when entering uncharted systems. They had ambushed and laid waste to hundreds of his vessels last year, an act of arrogance on his part.

Now he knew better. Reconnaissance would be needed. And to ensure that surprise was achieved, no communications were permitted.

The last thing he wanted was to let them know where he was just because of a data transmission about supply consumption.

Sending two frigates to get a proper read on the system, his fleet hung in the silence of interstellar space, surrounded by the faint wisps of an argon cloud.

His second in command, Sub-commander Uv'var stirred, blinking as fresh data flooded the holo-table. An older sailor from a mid-class bloodline, his voice was a harsh crack of gravel and business. "Fleetmaster. We are receiving the sensor data from the frigates"

"Show me" Ki'nav growled in eagerness as he stared down at the table. Holo-light shifted, showing a seven planet star system orbiting a yellow dwarf sun. The fourth planet was obviously inhabited as a swirl of blue-green oceans separated three, lush continents while several ships orbited the world and its twin moons. However, a very strange object floated at the far west of the system near the last world, almost representing a large, silver key.

Ki'nav pointed, highlighting the sky key. "What is that object?"

"Unknown Fleetmaster. However, one of the frigates did observe a ship appearing from the construct"

He dismissed the device for the moment. They could investigate after their victory. "Seran defenses?"

"Minimal. Merely a handful of destroyers and civilian craft. Estimates of population are believed to be between two and five million. Also, there are these visual transmissions" the junior officer informed, bringing up an image of a blue skinned Seran female with rigid head crests.

"Revolting. Everytime I bear witness to their disgusting image, I have a need to thank Klorta for our grace and strength" the communications technician stated with a spat of hatred, his throat sac growing a light red.

"Your words are true, technician" Ki'nav rasped out as he sneered at the image. The differences were minor from captured images, but they were still vile in his eyes.

Nothing but vermin in need of eradication.

"We will take this world for the Caliphate as it needs our salvation. All Seran life will be extinguished from the surface. Inform the Groundmaster to prepare his troops for battle"

"Yes Fleetmaster!" the bridge crew chorused, eager to achieve glory for their god.

Even if they had realized this was an Asari colony that now found itself near the Western borders of Coalition space, the Klor'vian Caliphate would have attacked regardless. After all, only they could be responsible for the sanctity of life bearing worlds.

The attack occurred in less than two hour with nearly two thousand ships appearing in the middle of the system as their FTL engines brought them back into normal space. Burning a harsh green, they raced toward the fourth planet.

The Asari forces were laughable at best. This had been a cul-du-sac relay system with no further connections aside from the lone Mass Relay link to the Asiyana System eight hundred light years away toward galactic south. As such, only three destroyers and seven light frigates had been stationed in the colony system…mainly to intercept smugglers or assist orbital construction.

Of course Lieutenant Halle V'shan had tried to initiate first contact protocols…only to have her tiny command destroyed in a single salvo. Plasma torpedoes along with a massed wall of driver rounds picked the light warships apart, leaving a floating field of wrecked hulls and spinning pieces of vessel.

She was at least successful in initiating a distress signal through the Mass Relay before the death of herself and crew.

Moving in orbit of the life bearing and valuable garden world, Fleetmaster Ki'nav stood in the center of his bridge, a pleased grin forming as the planet spun serenely. "None nuclear standard bombardment. All settlements and population centers are to be destroyed. Our warriors shall have an easy time with this…Seran sub-species"

"They were pathetically weak. At least the Seran vermin face death properly" Commander Uv'var reasoned, his rasping voice devoid of any semblance of respect.

"Indeed" Ki'nav agreed as the bombardment began. Mass accelerated rounds struck the largest settlement first, slaughtering the Asari with impunity and lack of remorse as the destruction continued. Shell after shell struck any detected structure or cluster of buildings, a continuous barrage of death and carnage that lay waste to all. Ending after four hours, the cities were enflamed, burning as uncontrolled firestorms consumed structures like kindling.

"Begin the invasion. All inferior sentients will be exterminated" Ki'nav stated with arrogance as he retook his elevated command chair. Feeling a sense of grand accomplishment, he breathed in the recycled, humid air. "Uv'var. Have some of our ships board those wrecks. If they have data cores of colony locations, I want them immediately. And send a few destroyers to scan that unknown object"

"At once, Fleetmaster" Uv'var complied, giving a practiced salute before relaying the orders. Knowing his orders would be carried out, Ki'nav watched the sub-vermin world burn as the first transports headed to the surface to cleanse the surface in the name of their powerful deity.

The Widow System. The Citadel. 2nd of Bloom 422. A.E.

The beautiful Asari stood in the middle of one of the Wards, surrounded by throngs of people of multiple species going about their business. Some were shopping, buying their desired products as others were just getting off their shifts in the never-ending bustle of commerce and traffic. Pressing down on her light purple dress that complimented the deep blue of her own smiling features, the female alien cleared her throat before bringing up the thin, hand held microphone.

"Hello. I'm Bea Ja'tol for the Citadel News Network. It's been nearly a month since first contact was achieved with the Coalition of Ordered Governments and the horrific events that led to the declaration of war not only by the Turians and Asari, but the Systems Alliance as well" Pausing to take a breath, several personal transports flew by the nearby glassed window, their blue engines glowing softly. "Historians, academics, anthropologist along with conspiracy theorists have been in an uproar with the discovery of a second branch of humanity. A humanity that has developed cultures, technology and values completely separate from the peoples of Earth" Bea Ja'tol's face grew withdrawn, almost sorrowful. "Of course, the greatest interest is in the unprecedented calamity of the global Pendulum Wars that lasted nearly eighty years on the Seran homeworld which were immediately followed by the unprecedented horrors of Emergence Day and following Locust War that bore witness to the near extinction of the Seran people. This has led to opinions ranging from respect and admiration to almost wrathful dismissal of Seran violence" Turning, the Asari reporter approached a lone Quarian checking her omni-tool. "Excuse me, would you mind if I asked you what you think of recent events? Especially the new found knowledge of Seran history?"

The Quarian turned his head, the face hidden by the standard faceplate that reflected a sheen of purple. "I head they use A.I. Fools will end up exterminated by their own creations just like the Geth did to my people" Turning away, the Quarian left in hurry. Blinking rapidly, Bea looked around for more possible interviews. Eyeing three Turian's talking and laughing near an island of plotted trees and benches, the reporter approached. "Hi. I'm from C.N.N. Do you mind if I ask you all about your thoughts of the Seran's and their history?"

One of the male Turians folded his arms across his chest, slowly nodding in thought. "Their ancestors showed not only great honor, but bravery as well during the war with the locust despite how distasteful their actions were. Burning your own homeworld to defeat not only a race of subterranean monsters but a parasitic entity as well shows great resolve"

Bea gave a warm smile, making sure not to show bared teeth to the Turians. "Many Turians have voiced high opinions of the CoG"

The lone Turian Female spoke, her voice higher than the males next to her. "I admire the structure of their society. Every person from the lowest farmer and miner, to their teachers, soldiers, technicians and statesmen all serve a purpose in the CoG. I just happened to read the 'Octus Canon' last night. The principles in those words are followed by all their citizens, something the Hierarchy believes in for our own people and guiding laws"

"So, you respect them?"

The last male barked a short laugh, the mandibles and plates of his face forming a small grin. "A single squadron of their naval vessels destroyed nearly an entire Batarian fleet and protected the colony of Reach from enslavement despite the butchery of millions that occurred there. I expect their vengeance to be extreme against those slavers"

The trio of Turians soon left, intent on enjoying their day off. Looking around the ward, Bea grinned as she found a Krogan talking with a lone human woman from the embassy. Rushing over in a brisk walk, the reporter presented the microphone to the duo as her floating camera hovered nearby. "Excuse me. Do you mind if I ask your opinion about the Serans?"

The Krogan blinked, then laughed before spreading his arms in a wide manner. "They fight like Krogan! Burning their own world to ash to defeat their enemies! Not only that, but they attached chainsaws to their rifles and now wage war against two races! That's such a Krogan thing to do! I would love to own one of those lancers so the enemies of Urdnot Wrex will fear my mere presence!"

"I happen to think its disgusting. Not only did the commit genocide against their own people and planet, but their government is tyrannical, almost fascist like the old governments of the twentieth century. What we should do is bring them into the System Alliance so they can learn about the benefits of democracy"

"Heh. Your still such a child, Terran. The Serans have strength of war and conflict through thousands of years. To join them in battle with my brothers would be worthwhile of Krogan blood and effort!"

"But they're humans and were lost among the stars for millennia! We need to help them reintegrate into our society"

Bea Ja'tol turned away as the two beings had a low level argument, then smiled at the camera. "Well, those are the many opinions I've encou—"

Tevos sighed, turning off the news program from the nearby flatscreen in her office. Massaging her temple, she could feel a headache coming on from the events of the last few hours….or last month to be precise. "What's that human saying about multiple, stressful events? When it rains it floods? …No, it pours I believe is the correct term"

Well, now it was pouring. The Colony of Valae had gone dark yesterday with a frantic emergency message coming from the few naval ships in system. They had managed to get partial scans of the enemy vessels, which matched Caliphate ships as described by the Coalition. The growing sense of discomfort and dread only grew when the High Matriarch and her government decided on sending the 4th fleet under Admiral Taya Lae'shale to conduct first contact and diplomatic operations.

The opinion that the Klor'vian Caliphate had been either insulted, attacked or otherwise offended which resulted in these hostilities. The Asari government wanted peace to begin guiding this reptilian species…and they wanted Councilor Tevos to ensure the Coalition would not take any hostile action to jeopardize this diplomatic mission…including censure or severing ties.

"This is madness. Utter madness" The councilor whispered to herself as her eyes traced the glowing numbers of her desk clock. Standing up suddenly, she cursed. "Damn! The next meeting starts in a minute!" Logging off from her computer quickly, Tevos hurried from her office down the corridor to the council hall.

Sliding into her seat forty seconds later, she already saw Councilors Procus and Junisa sitting at their respective podiums. Below her on the main floor was Ambassador Ichika Kojima, her stance relaxed as black hair flowed down her back past her light blue dress. Bearing Japanese descent, the ambassador was in her early forties and overall pleasant to deal with along with attractive looks. But her real strengths came from her intellect and reasonability to negotiate.

Across the room was Chairman Diaz of the Coalition, the holo image showing her standing with arms crossed as she talked lightly with the Terran ambassador.

"Is it true that one of your holidays involves a fat man breaking into homes and stealing food while his brother throws bad children into a burlap sack for consumption? And they do this to raise a bearded man from the dead to give away his blood as wine?"

"I believe your referring to 'Christmas' and it is much more detailed than that. Your compiling centuries of mythos and values into a few sentences"

"No matter. Nearly all of your holidays are steeped in religion and have no practical purpose in this day and age"

Councilor Junisa blinked, his eyes fluttering rapidly as he rose his slender hand to halt the conversation. "Let's begin the meeting. We must assess current situation of possible incursion of Caliphate forces at Valae system. Also, possible discussions of military alliance with Coalition of Ordered Governments. What is Asari Republic response concerning Valae?"

"It is the opinion of my government to send a single fleet to try and establish a proper first contact and dialogue with the Klor'vian Caliphate. They also want the Coalition to suspend any military actions against them to protect the peace talks"

Diaz scoffed, a noise of complete disregard as her body language became guarded. "Your government is acting like fools. Peace with the Toads? They don't even consider any of us people. By now, they've most likely bombarded that colony of yours and began to slaughter the survivors" She raised a finger, pointing at the Asari with a rising sense of anger. "The only way the CoG will stop our war of survival against those genocidal, religious extremists is to exterminate them!"

"Should we not try to make peace? If we can establish a dialogue with them, it could save countless lives" Tevos stated, almost in a plea.

"Those monsters have exterminated four…Four species! All of them bronze to medieval ages! Yet those beasts exterminated them to clear those planets for settlement…all in the name of their god! And they tried to do the same to my people! Yet here you sit above us, trying to dictate your wishes and speak of a military alliance!" Her voice lowered, the woman calming herself after the outburst. "Let's be honest here. Any sort of alliance would only benefit your council. Sharing our Slipspace technology, ship building techniques, maps and data of our colony locations. That's practically handing the information to those monsters myself!"

"Chairman Diaz. I understand you and your government have reservations, but many in my government would support an alliance to defeat these enemies. This even includes possible unification of both branches of hum—"

"Let me stop your right there, Ambassador" Diaz snapped, her voice almost icy with anger while holding up a pointed index finger. "There will be no unification. Any further efforts on that issue will be at best, viewed as insulting. After all, why would my people submit to a group of humans who could barely cross their own oceans five hundred years ago while we were already launching satellites and harnessing lightmass? If we were to unify, it would be Earth as the latest colony to the Coalition"

"You would…conquer us?" Ichika whispered incredulously.

"Only to safeguard humanity. It's obvious from your history that your people are misguided with minimal conflicts. To say that the Terrans could control the Coalition through force is laughable"

"Chairman Diaz. Nobody is talking about conquering your people or sharing vital information with the Caliphate. Let's try and find some sort of solution to dealing with this potential incursion" Tevos stated.

"Do what you will. With the annihilation of your colony, my military can plan accordingly and strike them after your 4th fleet burns"

"If you try this course of action, the Asari government will be forced to censure your government…despite my own reservations"

"You seem to be of the opinion that I give a damn" Turning her gaze away from Tevos, Diaz centered her attention toward Councilor Procus. "The Coalition Navy will begin operations against the Batarian's soon, we will inform you of our strategy when the time arrives"

Procus had known this meeting was likely to fail. But to watch it fall apart in minutes was still surprising. Especially the mistrusting hostility both groups of humans seemed to have for each other. But deep down, he was glad the Seran's hadn't buckled. His own opinion of trying to understand a race of fanatics was simply to destroy them or beat them so badly they couldn't rise up again.

The Asari had made another mistake, and his people would have to help pick up the eventual pieces.

Breathing deeply, the Chairman cast her gaze toward Ambassador Ichika with a glare. "Never ask us to join your System Alliance again"

In a flicker of light, Diaz's image faded into a firing of dissolving pixels, leaving the chamber mostly silent.

Ichika sighed with disappointment. "That could have gone better"

"Expected reaction considering their history. Seran's most likely see Caliphate as another form of locust and threat to survival. Religious extremists have potential to become extremely dangerous to Council species if left unchecked. Proper course of action is to move military forces in anticipation of first contact failure" Junisa reasoned with his hurried speech. Looking down at the female ambassador, he blinked rapidly. "Historically, humans have been wary of new groups. Unification of your two peoples would be highly problematic. War likely if issue is pursued. Hopefully, not an official request by your government"

"No. I was asked to voice the idea to them from several members of parliament. I just didn't expect such immediate hostility to the idea. I'll write up an official apology to them. The last thing we want is the Coalition severing all diplomatic channels because of a poor statement"

"A prudent course of action" The Salarian mentioned as he looked at the obviously stressed Tevos.

"This is not what I wanted at all. My government just wants a chance to prevent this war from expanding further" Rubbing her temple, Tevos knew that any further contact with the Coalition would have to either go through the other councilors or herself fervently apologizing.

"Goddess. There's still the question of our response to Reach and our hand in that travesty. Now this foolish course of action by my superiors?" Massaging the growing headache, she listened as Procus spoke up.

"Most of our fleets are still moving toward the Hegemony's border. But with the Alliance joining in, we could divert the 5th fleet toward Asiyana to deal with this new threat"

"That would be wise as a precaution"

With that, the four beings left the chamber, knowing that the war would drag on.

Sera. New Ephyra 2nd of Bloom, 422 A.E.

Within minutes of ending the failure of talks with the Council, Diaz had summoned Fleet Lord Stratton and several other ministers to the bunker deep underground. Bringing up a holographic representation of the galaxy, Council worlds and their own, she waited as Stratton zoomed in on the Valae system.

"We were extremely lucky, Chairman. The Toads mistook the Asari system as one of ours and attacked. Considering how close our Western border is with several Republic worlds it's a miracle they didn't. If they had found Vasgarnia instead, we'd be looking at tens of millions of casualties"

"What options do we have? The Asari are intent on trying to make peace with the Caliphate which will no doubt fail"

Stratton picked up the light pen, quickly highlighting the 5th and 3rd fleets stationed in the Pandora and Anvengad systems. Drawing a line, he dragged it toward Vasgarnia. "We move these two fleets immediately. With the 4th, 2nd and 1st reorganizing after that beating they took last week, they'll be busy with a new drive into the Caliphate toward Toad One" Taking a pause to inhale, the fleet lord continued. "Valae is three hundred eighty nine light years from our border. Those two fleets can wait on standby. Once the Caliphate resumes their advance into Asari space and presumably, attack Asiyana and the Republic 'peace fleet' we can launch our own attack and annihilate these monsters. Once that is done, we can begin a drive to their territory and bring the war to them"

"What about the Batarians? We need to respond somehow. Our citizens are wrathful and furious over the events at Reach"

The pudgy Minister of Production made his voice heard. "Our shipyard and orbital factories are in full swing. We have nearly three hundred brand new warships in this system, including a Dreadnaught, two Battleships, and a brand new 'Tai Kaliso' assault transport along with the needed supply vessels. Why not give Commander Strand a new squadron and turn her lose on the four-eyes? It's not like they can return to Reach without blasting through the combined Council fleet at Nueva Thessa anyway. They're too dam slow and our new sensor buoys would pick them up weeks before they reached our newest territorial claim. Not too mention the orbital supply yards and military installations already being constructed around Pandora would be able to give us ample warning"

"If you're going to talk about launching raiding forces into Batarian space, I strongly recommend we include the Anvengad Squadron under Lieutenant Commander Loomis. While Strand launches minimal invasions of low population colonies, he can just create havoc and burn a swath of destruction. Plus, if the worst happens, they'll be able to support each other"

Izabel Diaz could see the logic. Having the 5th fleet just guarding a lone planet is a waste. And both those officers were veterans, especially Commander Strand. Plus, her old squadron would need another three to five months to be fully repaired and reinforced. "Alright. Give her a list of potential targets, preferably worlds we can take and keep once this war ends. However, I don't want either of them slugging it out with half the Batarian navy. We can leave that to the Turians and Asari"

"I'll compile the orders immediately, Izabel" Stratton replied with a ghost of a grin.

"Oh, and unrestricted warfare is acceptable. Just because the Council or the Terrans don't bombard planets and cities doesn't mean we can't. Let's make sure the Batarian's howl in anguish for their actions"

"Obviously" Lord Stratton agreed as the meeting adjourned.

Asiyana System. 7th of Reap 422 A.E.

Seventeen hundred ships hung high above the planetary plane, waiting silently in the whips of gases and the silent void of the outer extremes of this newly found colony. If one were to study the stellar map, they would see a star system of five worlds. Three were nearly airless, spinning around the inner orbits while the fifth cooked under extreme greenhouse gases of sulfur, monoxide and other poisons. But the fourth planet…that world was ripe for cleansing. Blue oceans surrounded a single super-continent with hundreds of island chains on the far side of the life bearing globe. Passive sensors had detected massive multiple bands of telecommunication frequencies. Indicating an estimated population of at least half a billion of the sub-vermin.

Of course, another of those large, alien key's hung at the extreme edge of the far system.

Fleetmaster Ki'nav grinned maliciously, his throat sac glowing a bright yellow with unfettered happiness as he studied the translated data his forces had seized from the Asari computers.

Most of it was nonsense and worthless information about their culture, arts, and other aspects of their barely recognizable sentience. But the value of maps could not be ignored. Not only did they reveal every known world of these creatures, but their allies and neighbors as well. …Including the established borders of the hated Coalition.

While the locations of those Seran worlds were still unknown, his forces were very close to the border. Separated by only a few hundred light years.

Still, he and his sub officers had found it curious as to why the worthless Seran's had settled in two portions of the galaxy. This…Earth would need to be cleansed as well.

"Perhaps they experienced a civil war or some other calamity to separate their people? No matter, they all need to die to please Klorta and his word" He studied the galaxy map, scrolling the soft light images as he recentered on their target. "A shame that Tril'va was unsuccessful in bringing a fresh cleanse to the Serans. But, he did greatly damage one of their fleets. No doubt they will hide and lick their wounds for several months" The Klor'vian grinned...then his scowl reappeared. The Master of Fleets had mewled like a worried female from the homeworld, stating caution about advancing too far and too quickly. The terrified fool had even wanted Ki'nav to retreat and hold at the first Asari world. Even after all the delays of translating captured data and ensuring the success of the invasion. Not to mention waiting on fresh supply ships.

A waste of nearly two weeks before he was certain of the next target.

But Ki'nav was no fool. He had ensured a full naval squadron secured orbit around the cleansed planet, protecting their brave warriors and ensuring a steady stream of supplies before his departure.

Clenching a clawed fist as he retook his chair, the Fleetmaster would prove that those weak words would be proven false. After all, the Supreme Priest and high church supported his aggressiveness. Calming himself with a deep intake of humid, recycled air, his lips curled into a vile sneer.

"Begin the assault of this vermin world. Destroy everything that is an insult to our god"

"Yes fleetmaster! Assault course has been plotted!" The pilot answered loudly with practiced experience. With that, over seventeen hundred craft pointed downward, their engines burning a sickly green as they targeted the valuable colony.

The Asiyana Mass Relay flashed continuously as the 4th Republic fleet entered the far edge of the system, hundreds of warships moving away with expedience to spread out into a defensive formation. The flagship, Serene Diplomacy was quickly surrounded by supporting warships as her sensors began sweeping the system.

A day behind them was the Turian 5th fleet, rushing through the relay system to reach this valuable colony.

The bridge was colored in a deep, azure purple, indicating combat stations as Admiral Taya Lae'shale waited for the rest of her command to transit the relay.

An Asari of seven hundred and thirteen years, she was already the age of a Matriarch…and thus, given the proper respect. Born of a pairing between her mother and a Krogan, she was proud to have enhanced the genetic lines of her people with her own children sired with a Turian during her Matron years.

With a skin tone of deep purple, an elegant crest and barely visible freckles of gold among her cheekbones, she was still very beautiful among a race of beauty and elegance.

That immediately changed when her sensor officer gasped in horror. "Admiral! Asiyana is under attack! Multiple planetary strikes! Emergency transmissions for reinforcements are flooding communications!"

"What!? Who is responsible!?" Taya demanded, but deep down, she already knew the answer.

"Hull designs match Caliphate hulls. They're continuing to bombard the surface"

"Open communications with them!"

The crewwoman at comms stroked several keys, giving a nod to her superior once the act was done.

Standing up, Taya exuded presence, dignity and elegance as she stared at the visual screen. Knowing that these unknowns would be impressed, she hoped it would be enough to convince them to talk. After all, they were Asari. To ignore them would be admittance of a hostile culture like the Rachni centuries ago.

It was obvious this war with the Serans and the Klor'vians had been a giant misunderstanding. But if she could convince the Caliphate forces to abandon their actions and lift the occupation of Valae, it would be an amazing diplomatic effort toward continued peace and diplomacy.

"I am Admiral Taya Lae'shale of the Asari Republic. You have committed an act of aggression by attacking Asiyana and occupying the colony of Valae. Have your forces fall back immediately. Once you comply, we can begin negotiations to cease all hostilities"

There was several seconds of silence before a fresh image appeared on a large screen, showing a reptilian with pale, green scales. There was no actual nose, but breathing slits sitting below two yellow eyes that closed vertically. A hardened skullcap glistened with humidity while a sash dragged diagonally across the exposed chest of the alien officer. Curling it's lips in a sneer, its throat began to turn a crimson red before it spoke.

"Your mere existence is an insult to our all powerful god, Klorta. Cleansing you from existence is the only path. All vermin held worlds will be cleaned of your kind to protect the sanctity of life and nature. Prepare for death sub-creature"

Taya was stunned. Her superiors had assured her that she could reason with them…to reach some sort of understanding. But they had been mistaken…badly mistaken.

"They're insane. This species is completely insane"

"Admiral! The enemy fleet is breaking orbit! Estimated fifteen hundred to seventeen hundred ships! They'll reach our position in forty one minutes under sublight speeds!"

"Prepare for battle! We must protect the colony at all costs! Half a billion of our people inhabit that planet!" Her voice rang out, the orders carried to all vessels as they reformed into an attack formation like a pointed wedge or cone. The Asari ships began to push forward, their cross-like shapes cutting through the black as the relay fell behind them.

"I want targeting solutions as soon as we enter weapons range! Defensive batt—"

"Admiral! The enemy ships have vanished using unknown FTL! They're…GODDESS! They've re-entered normal space half a million miles away!" tactical screamed in horror as the hostile alien fleet blipped in and out of existence, pulling a move straight from the Seran navy.

"WHAT!?"

"Incoming craft! They're launching torpedoes and the enemy fleet is firing! Admiral…I'm detecting over two thousand torpedo launches from the Caliphate…gunboats? Possible corvette class!"

Taya felt her blood chill. If she had been human, her face would've drained to a pale white. "Two thousand! That's impossible!"

Serene Diplomacy took a mass driver hit, her shields flaring in the next three seconds. "All ships return fire! Show them the might of the Asari navy! Concentrate defensive envelopes on the torpedoes!" Taya urged with a shout as her Dreadnaught took another hit, the impact flaring against blue shields.

Her ship returned fire a mere second later, sending a 28 kilogram slug into the bow of an enemy frigate, knocking down the shields in one blow before firing again. The second shell impacted the frontal armor, buckling the bulkheads into ruin as the vessel fell from formation. Klor'vian's spilled from ruptured breeches, spilling into the void as the small vessel died under the anvil hammers of the Dreadnaught.

Asari warships exchanged fire, a staggered wall of outgoing munitions that hammered and slammed Caliphate vessels as the reptilians did the same, starting a deadly slugfest as shields flared and smaller ships began to take damage.

The forward escorts linked defensive fire with sister ships as blue and purple lasers stabbed the night, claiming hundreds of torpedoes. After all, the Asari wielded the most advanced naval forces in the galaxy. Torpedoes would get through, but they would persevere.

The Asari were wrong.

Of course they managed to intercept and destroy nearly 87% percent of those torpedoes…but that still left two hundred and sixty three of the warheads to break past the defensive fire and slam into the forward elements of the Asari fleet. Detonating among bare hulls or battered shields, one hundred and thirty eight Republic warships died in expanding balls of plasma fire. Hull plating simply melted away under the nuclear forces, killing thousands of naval personnel in a mere thirty seconds. Another one hundred twenty warships ranging from heavy destroyers to cruiser escorts and rapid response frigates were nearly crippled, their hulls leaking air as the plasma ate at girders, twisted hull plating, and the interiors of these proud warships.

"Goddess…Admiral! They're using plasma warheads!" an alarm blared from tactical, the younger asari frantically inputting fresh data. "The gunboats aren't breaking off! They're suicide craft!" Serene Diplomacy took three more hits, vibrating the hull as Taya gripped her command chair. "Cover their retreat! We must regroup! And concentrate fire on those suicide vessels!"

The 4th Republic fleet shifted to provide support, firing on a constant salvo into the ranks of the charging corvettes intent on mutual destruction. The tiny vessels weren't built to take extreme punishment, but with nearly one thousand of the cheap ships charging into the maws of incoming mass driver fire…while also supported by the main forces, they would have a heavy reaping this day.

Simply put, the Asari couldn't fire at all the ships of an enemy that outnumbered them two to one.

The first vessel to die was Silent Ocean, a heavy cruiser only five years into service. Five corvettes slammed into her shields, the plasma bombs combining with breeching engines into an expanding ball of hull, armor, and flailing bodies. Dying in an expanding ball of energy, the vessel was lost with all hands…and it wouldn't be the last.

Dozens of destroyers, frigates and cruiser escorts were ripped from existence in harsh billows of expanding, green plasma and nuclear fire. The wounded ships from the first salvo were relentlessly targeted as religious zealots burned hard and fast though desperate battery fire to carry out their god's will of destruction.

In less than five minutes, nearly forty percent of the Asari fleet died…and her suffering didn't end as Ki'nav's command kept up a constant pressure. His cruisers fired roiling blobs of plasma, targeting the largest ships even as the race of females tried to stave off defeat. Obviously, he had taken some losses. Nearly seventy vessels reduced to spinning wrecks or pounded to pieces, but most of those were among the lighter classes of ships.

So far, only three of his Plasma Cruisers had taken serious damage in this battle. Grinning ferociously, Ki'nav savored the sight of inferiors dying by his strength and the might of his race.

"Admiral! Shields at twenty three percent! Tranquility and Siya Moon have taken heavy damage and casualties!" A relay blew nearby, showering several crew in hot sparks and light burns as two more hits dropped their shields even further. Brushing off the embers, the officer's eyes went wide. "Incoming plasma charge!"

"Helm! Emerg—"

Serene Diplomacy took the superheated charge of nuclear plasma along the port wing of the cross shaped ship, the heat tearing through the failing shields and eating through armored hull. Visibly glowing, the structural integrity failed among that portion of the ship, ripping away like paper as her command began to buckle.

Taya felt blue blood trickle from her temple as the emergency alarms blared and cried. Her command was dying…but if she fled, these creatures would resume their bombardment of the colony and butcher half a billion of her people. Even if she survived, her status would be even worse than the pirate queen, Aria…no, even the lowest slaver would have more honor than her.

"Continue firing…no matter the cost" she ordered, almost serenely as another of her vessels died in a bombardment of incoming shells.

"By the goddess Athame…the Seran's were right. We should have listened to their warnings. We only have our arrogance to blame for this"

Edge of interstellar space. Asiyana system. 3rd Coalition Fleet.

Admiral Chiaki Akari hadn't stopped once since her fleet's departure from Anvegad. Especially since border pickets and patrols had observed the majority of Caliphate vessels departing their latest conquest. Sure, the ships left were a tempting target..but she wanted the whole prize. A chance to annihilate a full fleet of these bastards would only end the war quicker.

After all, who gave a damn about a single squadron and some supply vessels? No…she wanted to kill that damn fleet.

Plus, her new flagship, the monitor Aspho Fields needed to be tested in battle. What better way than to face a nearly full fleet of the vile Toads.

Still, they were cutting it horrendously close.

A smaller, athletic woman with dark hair and almond shaped eyes, she could be confused for a Terran of Japanese or Chinese ancestry. Obviously, she was not due to her family having lived in Pesang for centuries…then Anvengad and its beautiful, stunning mountains.

Still, she had to admit a slight admiration for Japanese history. They had been a fierce warrior people once. But those were thoughts for another day. Crossing her legs, the woman turned her gaze to tactical.

"Are we too late? Have the Caliphate already achieved victory?"

The young man shook his head, the long range sensors bringing back data in a constant stream from multiple ships. "No Admiral. They're still fully engaged in battle with the Asari"

"Excellent. We'll trap them and beat them to scrap. Signal all ships to prepare for battle and commence a short jump to slipspace. Bring us out right behind the fiends" Resting her hands on the nearby arm-rests, Akari was not surprised by the A.I. floating above the small projector table at her side. Taking the form of a small, blue star, the code rippled across the data surging surface as Aza spoke.

"We'll need to watch our crossfire. They're really tearing into each other. The last thing we want is to destroy the surviving Asari fleet by accident"

"I'm sure you've already triple checked our jump course and corrected any issues"

'I checked five times. Estimated probability of friendly fire is 1.73%"

"That will have to do"

With that, nine hundred and sixty two slip space ruptures formed in the serene stillness of the interstellar border, hiding the ships as they slid into the swirling blues and purples of the spatial dimension.

Ki'nav grinned like a predator as the Asari fleet buckled and frayed. The suicide corvettes had performed admirably, sowing great destruction as his main line continued to pound these inferiors to twisted scrap.

Of course, they tried to fight, sending small groups to try and strike his rear and sow destruction. All those ships accomplished was their own demise.

"Fleetmaster. The inferiors have taken nearly fifty percent losses. Our firepower is too great for them to emerge victorious. Even as we speak, their largest vessels burn with damage"

"Excellent" Ki'nav smiled, his sharpened teeth almost ferocious as the morale of his subordinates soared. Incoming volleys of slugs crippled another seven of his destroyers and frigates, but his losses were far less than the Asari. Returning fire among the cataclysmic stabbing of laser defenses, exploding warheads and ships shuddering with damage, the Klor'vian fleet held fast in the vast nothingness of space.

Ki'nav watched as the enemy flagship faltered under more impacts. One of the wing sections was completely gone and multiple sections of the hull had been ripped open to the void of space, spilling unworthy lives to freeze. Multiple areas flared with internal fires, belching elements along with water-ice in a spillage.

Still, they kept firing as several other ships took of the brunt of protecting the burning vessel.

An alarm blared, shrieking in a stunning warble from sensors. The sub-technician tensed, his yellow eyes growing wide before blinking in a stupor. "FLEETMASTER! Over nine hundred slip space ruptures are forming above and behind us a million miles away! It's the Coalition!" He typed frantically, the abrupt change of their situation horrifying to the young officer. "Weapon's range in ten seconds! I'm detecting an increase in power among their capital ships!"

Ki'nav instantly went from the cusp of victory to the looming horror of defeat. Standing up and rushing toward the tactical table, he sneered as his throat sac became crimson with fury. "How dare…how dare these vermin steal my victory!" Slamming a gnarled fist upon the table, he knew this battle was lost. "Turn us about! We must retreat before they overwhelm us! Communications! Send warning to our brethren at the cleansed world to begin withdrawal!"

"Yes fleetmaster!" Gritting his teeth, his command began to turn, their sublight engines flaring in desperation to bring weapons to bear against the hated Serans. His smaller destroyers pulled a high turn, the inertia almost causing failures in the vessels, but his larger vessels would not make the maneuver in time.

Coalition ships fired seven seconds later. A massed volley of firepower that would make even the Turians or Krogan wary. Destroyers unleashed their fusion torpedoes, nearly thirteen hundred of the warheads slipping through the void of silence as standard shells flashed at 1.2% light speed. Thermic slugs burned hot, searing at thousands of degrees as Aspho Fields targeted the Toad flagship…along with two Dreadnaughts and four Battleships. Twelve beams of superheated energy burst from the apertures in a downward arc from the 'high ground'

Fleetmaster Ki'nav's flagship really stood no chance against such massed firepower. Against one of the Coalition capital vessels, perhaps. But the combined firepower of seven? No. Hammer of Dawn energy splashed against the shields, smashing them down after three seconds of continued fire…then burned through three separate sections of the mile long vessel. Severing the spine amid ships, the K'lin broke in half before the nuclear engines failed from a beam of high energy punching through the reactors. Consumed in a ball of green fire, the rear half of the vessel exploded in a sphere of expanding ruin. The front half fared slightly better for an extra five seconds before the superheated fire tore through the bridge, killing Ki'nav and his officers in a searing blast of light.

This destruction was soon joined by fusion warheads bursting along Klor'vin hulls, eating away shields as hull and armor splintered. Artificial suns bloomed in the night, consuming frigates as the remaining destroyer line surged forward in a desperate attempt to consume Coalition ships in plasma fire. In a span of three minutes, two hundred and eighty three lighter vessels were destroyed or crippled, a devastating attrition rate as the shattered command structure tried to escape the trap.

"Incoming suicide destroyers, Admiral. They're launching torpedoes and making a run toward our forward vessels" Aza observed as several forward combat groups came under sporadic and ineffectual fire. "Shift defensive fire accordingly. And keep targeting their capital ships" Admiral Akari ordered simply as Aspho Fields fired four searing beams into a Plasma cruiser, the ship responsible for gutting the battlecruiser, Titan. It's armor and shields withered under the heat, four beams tearing through the middle of the bow and splitting the vessel in half along the full length.

Defensive laser fire burned across the velvet night, consuming the desperate and staggered torpedo line in roiling balls of silent explosions. Of the five hundred launched in piecemeal sections, only thirty eight managed to break through and burst against Seran vessels…all of them destroyers. Twenty three of those crews died in green, nuclear fire while fifteen of those ships became bleeding wrecks. But massed CoG fire was continuous, pouring into the charging suicide warships as they burned and broke like moths in the flame.

Only three barely steerable wrecks managed to punch through the defensive and offensive fire, slamming into a trio of battlecruisers. The Bale and Bloom died a grisly fate, their crews consumed in the detonation. Fortunately for Tentor Lake, the vessel escaped total destruction…barely. Half the vessel had been ripped open, showing the melting bulkheads and interior sections of the vessel. She was covered by fellow ships, limping to the rear with sublight engines flickering with heavy damage.

Out of 1,903 crewmembers, Tentor Lake lost 714 personnel with even more wounded.

Still, The Klor'vin fleet had become outnumbered, outgunned, and lost their flagship in a matter of minutes.

Of course the Asari would take advantage of the situation.

"Fire! FIRE NO MATTER THE COST!" Admiral Taya Lae'shale shouted, the blood along her temple flowing in a cascade of blue. Alarms screamed around her, the majority of her command dead or dying as sparks and smoke filled the bridge. Serene Diplomacy had never let up despite the horrendous damage, nor had her sister vessels as the Caliphate fleet turned to make a fighting escape.

She hated herself for smiling when the Coalition dreadnaughts tore the enemy flagship apart, but the hostility of this species had become apparent.

Her initial opinion of the Serans had been they were brutes, almost as bad as the Krogan for their actions in the past. A people who almost welcomed war and were willing to commit genocide without trying for peace. By the goddess, they burned their own homeworld like the Krogan!

But now, at this time? She couldn't deny the unexpected relief and salvation of her command.

"Admiral! The Serans have destroyed or crippled nearly seventy percent of the Caliphate fleet! Estimated CoG losses approaching seventy ships! …Detecting a surge in nuclear energy from the survivors! They're transiting to FTL!"

Watching her tactical display flicker from damage, Taya scowled. She knew that some of the enemy would escape. Something the CoG vessels were adamant in preventing as they continued to pour fire into the enemy formation without mercy.

Engines glowed green even as high velocity slugs tore into them from the Asari…or slammed into the failing shields and glowing hulls from the high flank the Coalition held. Another dozen ships fell from formation, their nuclear cores going critical or simply exploding from the unwavering damage. The survivors surged, snapping forward into FTL escaping the horrific loss that had transpired.

Of the 1,700 hundred vessels to enter this system. Only three hundred and three escaped…many of them so badly damaged they would be under repairs for months.

"Cease fire" Taya ordered simply. Slumping in her seat, she felt thankful just to be alive…and that the majority of the colony was saved.

Still. No Asari fleet had taken such losses since the Rachni wars.

"Admiral…we're receiving a communication from the Serans" comms reported softly, the Asari hissing from a light electrical burn across her cheek. A station blew nearby, showering more sparks across the bridge as the battle klaxon faded from the crew's ringing ears.

"Put it on any working screen" Glancing at the main viewer screen, it had been destroyed, the center smoking from an overload. She would have to settle for a smaller one. The image flickered, showing a Seran female with black hair and almond eyes. Her face was beautiful, complimented by the black tunic lined with gold trim.

"Asari fleet. I apologize for entering your territory, but the situation called for it. Despite your losses and the warning of our government, this can be considered a great victory"

Taya wiped some of the blood away, the liquid streaking her hand. "Under the circumstances, I believe my government will ignore this incursion. Of course, I'm sure they'll want something in return for the breeching of their borders" Another cascade of sparks blew behind her, showering the deck. "As I'm sure your scans are aware, my command has suffered great losses. Not only that, but Asiyana was being bombarded. We could use your assistance to conduct rescue and repair before regrouping to relieve Valae"

The Seran's eyes momentarily dipped, becoming heavy. "I am sorry, but by this time, the majority of Valae's population has been eradicated. You will be liberating a dead colony. Of course, there could be small pockets still alive, but I wouldn't count on many. As for relief and rescue, I must apologize. We will be departing as soon as we finish our own rescue efforts to pursue the remnants of the Caliphate fleet"

Taya had hoped for more co-operation, but see supposed it was the best she would get. After all, the Coalition could have simply stood by and let the republic burn.

"Admiral…"

"Akari. Admiral Akari" she said simply.

"Admiral Akari. Both our peoples have been attacked by the same enemies. Shouldn't we try to work together? After all, based on our estimates, your slipspace drives will still take your command two to three weeks to reach Valae. By that time, the enemy will most likely be gone"

"Perhaps. But Valae is a minor concern to the Coalition. Following their path of retreat toward their own territory is the goal I was presented with. That, and to destroy the remnants of that fleet before they can regroup" Akari looked away, listening to a verbal report before looking back toward the Asari officer. "We will depart from the system in one hour. Be thankful that your people suffered minimal losses in life and vessels" Having finished in a grim tone, the communication ended.

"Valae had a population of over four million. And who knows how many tens of thousands perished on Asiyana today. The Serans consider that light losses?" the pilot asked, her tone incredulous as the co-pilot chided her. "Haven't you watched the historical vids? To the Seran's, a few million war dead are light losses"

Taya did her best to ignore the throbbing of her head, the wound still seeping blood as she sighed in defeat. Beyond the broken and glowing hull of her Dreadnaught, her gutted command began to commence search and rescue…along with salvaging any Caliphate wrecks they could find.

Within the hour, the Coalition warships entered Slipspace, the majority on a bearing toward Valae while the remainder transited Eastward, no doubt toward the unknown interior of the CoG.

1,985 light years (Galactic South of Sera) 12th of Reap, 422 A.E.

Hegemony Space. Boto-Shik System.

Three hundred and twenty two spatial ruptures formed at the extreme edges of the lower system, far beyond the spinning rocks and water ice of the outer asteroid belt. Transiting the vortex of blue, purple and static lightning, The lead Dreadnaught, Jilane was brand new from the Onyx naval yards and filled with fresh personnel from the naval training centers. In fact, almost the entire squadron was freshly constructed and crewed with novice crews with the exception of flag officers.

Commander Jayde Strand was once again facing the hell of combat against the Batarians, but she fervently hoped the fates were in her favor. After her wounds healed, the medals and commendations, she had been presented with a new command…along with nearly 75,000 Gears for invasions and ground operations. Housed in the new assault transport reminiscent of the old grindlifts, the Tai Kaliso class would make rapid deployments easier. At least, that was the hope anyway.

Her orders had been clear. Occupy light colonies, destroy infrastructure, mining operations, fuel stations and anything she could target.

Picking up the data pad as her junior officers and bridge crew compiled sensor data of the system, she read the latest reports. The Turian's and Asari fleets had finally moved two days ago, leaving a token defense force at the junction system of Vonroe. Using their relay system, it was safe to assume they were launching an invasion of the Lav'ton system and the accompanying colony and industrial assets.

Which meant that Jayde could harass and attack with impunity. Even if the Hegemony responded, it would be minimal at best concerning the smaller populations of these outer colonies along the Eastern branches of their territory.

The possibility of choices command had given her from acquired maps numbered nearly a dozen. From the orbital processing yards of Va'shan, the merchant slave colony of Ter'sha all the way to the Terminus pirate haven of Omega.

That last one was 1,319 light years East of their current position, and presented a tempting target due to the simple fact that it could be used as a base of operations. The main reason she hadn't was the fact Omega was out of the way at the extreme borders of the Hegemony.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. Most of the Coalition navy was pushing north against the Caliphate, finally regaining the momentum after the victory at Asiyana. If everything went according to plan, they would finally be invading and exterminating those beasts on their home turf…permanently.

Setting down the data pad, Jayde knew there really wasn't anything she could do about that. Her job was to destroy Batarians. Something she was happy to achieve.

"After all, a civilization that practices slavery in this day and age isn't a civilization at all"

"Report"

The young man at sensors looked up, his youthful face betraying his innocence as Commander Strand looked his way. "By the Allfathers. Half my crew aren't even twenty yet" she briefly thought.

"All vessels have emerged from slipspace without issue. Gathering data of the planetary system now"

Jayde stood, quickly striding to the holo table and her nearby first officer, Jess Letcher, a veteran of Reach and former Captain of a battlecruiser. While plain in terms of appearance, Letcher was a very capable officer, ready to step in if Jayde was killed or incapacitated.

Bringing up the planetary system, Captain Letcher picked up a light pen, circling their current position well below the stellar plane of the system. The tiny, holographic planets spun lazily around a colder star, most of them frozen orbs of ice or simply bare rocks. Only the second planet was interesting, a cold, half frozen tundra world with a single, half broken moon in orbit.

A mass relay floated between the fourth and fifth planets, the tiny representation still highly detailed.

"What are we looking at, Jess?"

"Minimal defenses and minor naval presence, most of which are mercenary or privateers. This world is essentially a backwater mining colony for the Hegemony. As of the last known survey by the Batarian's before they left the Council, we could be looking at a population of ten to thirty million. Also, we could be looking at a sizable slave population as well"

"Great. That's just what we need" Jayde grumbled while brushing away strands of green hair. "What are the chances they'll counter-attack or send relief forces?"

"With Loomis most likely already destroying the fuel refineries at Tarak'nor and the Turian siege of Lav'ton, minimal. They simply won't have enough to fight the Asari, Turian, ourselves and the Alliance on multiple fronts"

"Alright. We sweep their ships, then commence the bombardment"

The battle was horribly one sided. The thirty eight privateers and pseudo pirate ships barely tried to fire a shot before attempting to flee toward the relay. Obviously, the Coalition had other plans as they mercilessly hunted down each ship and pounded them into spinning, air-spewing wrecks.

This really was a backwater colony…and the Batarians would pay dearly. Entering a high orbit with her ships pointed toward the planet below, Commander Jayde Strand had read the initial reports. Most of the cities and settlements harbored slave populations. Some were just a few hundred in the small mining towns…but the higher densities of broken and beaten Asari numbered the thousands all across the planet.

It was a terrible decision. Those suffering beings didn't deserve to die, but trying to dig out and save every single one while the Batarians outnumbered the invasion forces by millions was suicidally impractical.

There was only one option, and that was to end the majority of their suffering. Coming to that conclusion, Jayde uttered one word.

"Fire!"

The bombardment commenced with the twin beams of Jilane punching through the atmosphere toward the city center of the largest population center. In a flash of light and heat, the billowing shockwave and searing firestorm killed roughly two million Batarians…and they were only the first to perish under the Coalition's wrath.

Mass accelerated rounds, Thermic slugs, and continuous Hammer of Dawn fire rained down on the hapless colony world, incinerating millions in a horror of fire, ash and slaughter. What had once been a world populated by twenty three million of the hated slavers was quickly being reduced to a glowing char of desolation as rampant firestorms consumed the major urban centers.

Skylines became like ragged teeth, the structures of twisted monoliths of missing glass, burning facades and melting steel within. Below in the streets, the citizens of this world became nothing more than haunting pillars of hardened ash, their last moments frozen in horror and desperation.

Astonishingly, the secondary port city of Grav was spared, mainly due to the higher concentrations of Asari slaves and the processing slave market. Hugging a curving coast on the Western continent, the city was shrouded in the throes of winter…and was the target of the invasion.

Most notably, the 3rd Orbital Rifle Division on board the Tai Kaliso as it began to disgorge thousands of two man drop pods. The ship was firing at targets of opportunity, trying to soften up the 'beachhead' while more of the ODAG pods were jettisoned from the vessel in low orbit.

While reminiscent of the historical grindlift pods, these were capable of plunging through atmosphere to deploy a full division Gears on the ground in minutes.

Regular transports would then land at the secured battlefield to disgorge reinforcements, artillery, armor and supplies.

Colonel Anthony Fenix could hear the heavy breathing of himself as he stared through the lenses of his standard issue helmet. While normally he preferred to keep the helmet off, standing orders were to keep the armor sealed in case of a breech in the pod. Across from him was Sergeant Trenn Vollin, the man no doubt trying to ignore the fact that outside this cramped, dark cylinder was the cold of vacuum. Even if Anthony looked out the tiny port window, he couldn't even see anything as their drop pod automatically aligned with the established landing zone below.

There was a sense of inertia…then the growing sense of weight from his feet as the small window began to glow with heat and friction. Peering out the small porthole, Colonel Fenix could barely make out the glowing cylinders of several pods, carrying more of his division to the ground.

"If only Marcus could see us now" the man reminisced, knowing the life and career of his legendary ancestor and war hero. The shaking grew worse, making any other words pointless as the atmosphere shrieked by in a howl.

Intermittent ground fire opened up, the few obsolete defensive batteries trying in a hopeless desperation to stop whatever was coming down.

"Fire! Kill every last one!" Lieutenant Lebrak Drabness shouted, his defensive battery crew working feverishly as the wave of pods screamed downward from the heavens.

"I'm trying! But there's too many!" a private howled back, his form sitting in the gunner's chair as he shifted fire, destroying one of the small pods. Other laser batteries around the trade port and the accompanying slave pens kept firing, but the writing was on the wall as the first pods landed with a harsh crack, cratering pavement and sidewalks where they landed. Some punched through the roofs of nearby homes and shops, blowing through the civilian structures.

Situated on the roof of a security station, the laser battery kept firing in earnest…even as three pods crashed into the reinforced roof of the four story structure. One of them slewed sideways, bowling over a Batarian soldier in a surge of impacting gore and exploding bits. The other two landed mostly upright, one leaning heavily to the side as the doors sprang off in a billow of sealed gasses.

"Grab your weapons!" Lebrak screamed as four Gears emerged. Trying to grab his Batarian made M-9 Mauler rifle from his back armor plate, the lieutenant was horribly slow on the draw. Bullets smashed into his kinetic barriers, staving off immediate death for three seconds…until they collapsed under the constant impacts of munitions. Once that happened, two bullets tore though his upper left eye, killing the lowly officer in a splatter of blood. Dropping to the rooftop like a ragdoll, his small crew managed to squeeze off half a dozen pulses of kinetic rounds before they were overwhelmed by the torrent of old-school gunpower bullets.

Colonel Fenix stepped forward after the minimal firefight, watching as a lone Batarian tried to crawl across the roof, his body and armor shattered from bullet damage. Scowling behind his helmet, the officer stomped forward while flipping the switch of his chainsaw. The blades screamed as he plunged the weapon into the slavers back, a howl of agony erupting from tearing organs, rendered armor and splashes of blood. Yanking the weapon free, the man removed his stuffy helmet.

The same outlying facial structure had been carried down through the generations along with the black hair of his family. Piercing blue eyes rested above a squattish nose and craggy features along with the recognizable structure of the chin.

While only thirty seven, there was no doubt this man was related to the legendary hero. And like that long dead ancestor, Anthony Fenix had served the Coalition for the entirety of his adult life. Breathing out as whisps of freezing air bit at his face, the colonel reached into his pocket and pulled out a dull gray officer cap. Flicking his wrist, the cap expanded, showing the central Gear as it came to rest on his head. The bill tried to lift from a gust of air, but the hat stayed.

Stepping to the roof's edge as the nearby Gears helped the two soldiers out of the third, horizontal pod, the Colonel squinted his eyes as thousand of his men and women took to battling the Batarian security and slaver forces. Crackling gunfire and pulses of energy weapons echoed across the surrounding city scape, along with screams and bellows of pain. Tracing his gaze to the trade port three blocks away, he could see over the massive walls that hundreds of grind pods had fallen within its borders.

"Good. Looks like most of us landed within the target zone"

Raising a hand to his earpiece, the man spoke with a rumble. "This is Colonel Fenix! All forces keep on mission. Securing the space port is top priority. I'll be setting up a rallying point at grid…" he waved to Sergeant Vollin, the helmeted man handing him a data pad showing a map of the city separated by grids and coordinates. "Five three one dash two. It's a security outpost" Handing back the pad, Colonel Fenix nodded at the three other men and two women under his immediate command. "We secure this building floor by floor. No survivors. These asshole's started this war, but by the Allfathers, we'll finish it"

One of the helmeted women raised her hand. "Sir, what if we come across Asari slaves?"

"Then spare them unless they prove hostile. Don't do anything to jeopardize yourself or your fellow soldiers" Fenix finished as the group of six stacked up outside the roof access door. Sergeant Vollin primed a thermite grenade, waiting to toss as another Gear packed the doorhandle with a breeching charge.

It blew with a small bang, destroying the locking mechanism as Vollin kicked it open and tossed the grenade. Diving out of the way as three Batarians shot upward at him, the unfortunate souls screamed as the handheld bomb blew, sending out a cone of thermic shards that burned flesh with unholy ferocity.

Screams of agony bellowed from the stairwell, the three aliens thrashing and pleading for mercy.

The Gears shot them dead, Fenix stepping over the dead bodies last as they pushed further into the building. Reaching the third floor landing, Fenix could hear the rushing of footfalls and shouting from below. Peering over the railing, several Batarian guards were rushing up the stairs.

"Private Lopez, would you be kind enough to scorch these bastards?"

"Sir!" one of the women barked, hefting the flamethrower while another Gear covered their advance. Rushing downward toward the next platform, a blast of fire and heat filled the stairwell along the staccato of bullets. Unholy screams erupted from below, along with the charred stink of flesh, the oily black smoke rising to fill Anthony's nostrils.

Breeching the second floor after sweeping the third, the Gears continued to push downward with a merciless drive while leaving the broken and bleeding corpses of Batarians in their wake.

Within the hour, the first standard transport landed in the secured spaceport, disgorging the first Centaur Battle tanks. Artillery rapidly deployed in the center of the tarmac, the guns spouting flame at distant targets while the four eyed aliens tried to scrounge up enough forces for a counter-attack.

At best, half of the remaining military forces the Batarians could call upon were part time militia, security forces or slaver guards. They simply could not stand up to the withering firestorm of bullets, shrapnel and constant artillery employed by the Coalition as they began to clear the city one building and block at a time.

Le'hak System. 19th of Reap. 422 A.E. (632 lightyears 'north' of Bo'link aka Toad-One)

Fleetmaster Tril'va breathed in horrified relief, trying no to show any semblance of fear toward his crew or the High Priest standing before him on his bridge.

Priest Van'lik stared, trying to make the military officer squirm…to show some sort of disloyalty to their god. But the seasoned officer hadn't risen to any sort of bait, only using competent reason.

"And this is your recommendation? To abandon one of our sacred worlds to the vermin hordes?"

"Yes. Bo'link was lost last year when the Seran's touched it with their vile actions, killing untold millions of our blessed believers. The garrison there will fight to the death, but to charge into battle with our remaining fleets would be a grievous error. Especially after the horrendous losses the 2nd subjugation fleet suffered, including the death of Fleetmaster Ki'nav. We were extremely fortunate the surviving officers managed to extract our forces from the Asari world and retreat before the Coalition could hunt us to our territory"

"And what of our corvette fleets? Would they not increase our firepower to take the war to them?" Van'lik asked, his voice like a stabbing needle of animosity.

"Their effectiveness is mixed. No doubt the Coalition is working on ways to minimize their effectiveness, but using formations to launch raids could be beneficial in the fact it could slow down their advance"

"So, you're essentially saying that the Caliphate should go on the defensive? To let these…these sub creatures attack us?"

"Temporarily. Until we can bring our naval forces up to full strength once more" Tril'va reasoned, his older tone raspy with age and experience.

The priest tapped a clawed finger against a nearby console, the crewman keeping his head low and gaze averted. "I will inform the church of your defensive doctrine. However, if the supreme priest orders an attack, you will attack, understood?"

"For the will and glory of Klorta, I will carry out my duty"

"Excellent" the priest preened, his smile obviously fake and sinister. Walking across the bridge with a swish of fine silks and robes glittering with fine stones, he stopped at the exit before turning one last time. "See that your faith is strong, Fleetmaster. I would hate to see somebody with your years of experience thrown into a desert to die of dehydration for failure" Leaving swiftly with his personal guards, Tril'va felt a weight lift from his head…but not his heart.

The church couldn't see it yet…but he could. "The Seran's will have allies now. We've basically declared holy war on the whole galaxy. And eventually…they will overwhelm us" Sitting still, the amphibian sat in silence as his fleet guarded the holy world of Le'hak and her six hundred million citizens. "Two weeks. The Coalition fleets will reach our borders in two weeks…and they'll most likely emerge victorious at Bo'link" Sighing deeply, he stared out the bridge window at the beautiful world of greens and blues below, the swampy jungles and rainforests lush with life among the dazzling glitter of their cities.

It was only a matter of time before they died under orbital fire.

---

Coalition ship index. Circa 422 A.E.

Assault Transport: Tai Kaliso class

Length: 1.0 miles

Armor: Tungsten/Chromium Steel 155 centimeters thick

Crew Compliment: 600. Plus 15,000 Orbital Drop Assault Gears (ODAG's)

Computer Systems: Class IV battle systems

Primary Weapon: 12kg spinal M.A.C. Fires at 1.1% light speed.

Secondary Weapons: 2 lightmass cluster batteries (Port and Starboard) Capable of firing sixteen 5kilogram fusion warheads.

Defensive Armament: Sentinel Laser Systems

Class Four shields

One fusion engine

Slipspace Drive: Fifty light years per day.

And that's a wrap for this chapter! I hope you all enjoy it! Next one will see invasions of the Caliphate, space battles and maybe an actual physical meeting between the Council and Coalition. Not sure about that last one yet.

Anyway! Read, enjoy and review!

Also, the Tai Kaliso assault transport was written up by Blaze501st. Granted, I made some tweaks, but he came up with the idea of ODAG's.

This is thehappy signing off!