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.

8. Chapter Seven The Turning Tide

So, basically I kinda already have some of this chapter in my head already, hence the rapid update of this story. Not sure if it will be the same size as the last one, but lets find out! Also, I'm glad so many people are enjoying my story! Seriously, even if I just get a few reviews of positivity, that's a good thing in my book!

Anyway! Time for the story!

Chapter 7: The Turning Tide

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The Widow System. The Citadel. Presidium, Zakera Café, 20th of Reap, 422 A.E.

Nearly two dozen patrons of the café were glued to the main viewing screen, an assortment of Asari, Turians, and Salarians…along with two Volus near the end of the long bar. Obviously, the news was on, blaring through the café as several other citizens watched with glued eyes.

A familiar Asari reporter stared back from behind a desk, her face grim as a dark maroon dress complimented her looks. "Hello. I'm Bea Ja'tol with C.N.N. giving you an update on the war. It's been nearly two weeks since the disastrous first contact failed with the Klor'vian Caliphate. With the 4th Republic Fleet in shambles, The Turian 5th fleet has taken over rescue and recovery at Asiyana and Valae even as more supplies and emergency personnel are arriving every day" Pausing, the reporter composed herself. "Estimated casualties, including those lost among military personnel are steadily climbing by the day as more are confirmed killed. Surpassing eight million, this has been the worst defeat in Council history since the Rachni Wars. It was only through a hastily held alliance of forces with the Coalition of Ordered Governments that total annihilation was avoided at Asiyana. When reached for comment, Council Procus had this statement"

The screen momentarily faded, revealing the firm stance of the Turian councilor behind a podium flanked by Tevos, Junisa and the Alliance ambassador. "This untold tragedy has without a doubt confirmed the complete hostility of the Caliphate and their holy war against the peace loving peoples of the galaxy. The Hierarchy will honor this call to arms, and together, we will secure victory!"

Bea returned to view, her face still grim. "Invasion forces at Lav'ton continue to press the attack against the Batarian Hegemony, continuously pushing them back after the naval victory with substantial losses on both sides. Admiral Tibernius has also confirmed that Coalition forces have taken Boto-shik, liberating nearly 60,000 Asari slaves while decimating the Batarian population through heavy orbital bombardment. CoG raiding forces have also destroyed the fuel refineries at Tarak'nor, crippling Hegemony forces in the cluster. To the far West, the Alliance 3rd fleet under Admiral Hood has secured the Sha'vale system along with the moon of Erdor, securing a disputed colony for the Alliance despite heavy losses with ground troops. At Venrak'sha, Admiral Pontificus of the 7th Turian fleet engaged Batarian naval forces, both sides retreating after taking nearly 65% losses, a horrible day for both"

Taking a deep breath once more, the reporter tried to maintain her positive outlook. "In diplomatic news, the Council along with the Terran ambassador are working hard to establish a working, military alliance with the Coalition of Ordered Governments. So far, all attempts have failed as communications seem to have been severed due to the unforeseen events in Coalition space"

Councilor Tevos finished her tea, the luke-warm liquid soothing to the constant stress she felt.

It was a temporary lull in the hardships of the last few weeks. Standing up quickly, Tevos knew that it would only be a matter of time before the common citizens bombarded her with questions, suggestions, or simply anger for the Council's recent failure. Leaving the café, she passed several incoming customers as she began to think and walk on her return to the council chambers.

The High Matriarch and her closest advisors had stepped down, taking full responsibility for the twin disasters at Valae and Asiyana. The newest Matriarch was pushing for increased mobilization. Not only against the 'Butchers of Valae' but the Batarians as well. To find out the numbers of their own species in the bonds of slavery was an affront to Asari culture and their core beliefs.

"It's our biology working against us. We can mate with any species. The Batarians probably had only a few hundred or thousand slaves, then forced bred them into making more over the years without any outside forces realizing the vile practice was in place. How many more worlds of theirs committed similar acts?" The implications made her sick.

There could be hundreds of thousands…maybe millions of her own species born into bondage without the Council ever realizing it.

For the first time, she was actually glad the Serans were so understandably brutal in their elimination of the enemy. From the few reports she received from the liberated Asari of Boto-shik, the tundra planet had become of graveyard of genocide against the four-eyes.

The Coalition didn't play around.

"At least it seems the Serans are providing food, medicine and supplies to my people. But the trauma those Asari had to experience…awful. It will take years to reintegrate them into normal society"

The elevator ride to the Council chambers was agonizing slow, the elevator of glass and white furnishings a crawl of movement. No matter how many times technicians reset the speed, the stations Keepers would reset the original controls within the hour. After so many attempts, it became simply a wasted effort.

Striding confidently past several benches, plotted plants and a few C-sec guards, Tevos entered the main chamber. Junisa was absent, no doubt working with his own government about finding a viable way to reach Caliphate space. Councilor Procus was at his podium, looking down at a Turian naval officer.

Which was fine. They weren't holding a formal session anyway. Deciding to listen in, Tevos traversed the nearby hallway to climb the stairs to her own podium. Sitting down once more, she remained silent as the officer used the built in holo emitters of the chamber. Bringing up the representation of a warship that bore striking resemblance to obsolete gun-powder rifles, the Turian began to lecture.

"While the events of Asiyana and Valae were horrific, it did glean us much needed knowledge on Caliphate tactics and capabilities along with Coalition Naval forces of fleet strength"

"And what have you learned, Captain?" Procus asked, his attention rapt.

"Several things. First and foremost. Any future engagements with Caliphate naval forces must take into account plasma weaponry, massed torpedo attacks, and vessels designed for the express purpose of a suicide attack. Based on payload charges the Asari shared with us after the battle, just a handful of these plasma corvettes could cripple any larger Council ship, including Battleships and Dreadnaughts. To ignore them based on size and appearance would be a fatal mistake"

"Agreed. All our flag officers will be notified of this. Now what about the CoG?" Procus inquired.

The Captain pointed toward the floating hologram, the light blues and grays of his facial plates slightly shifting from a small smile. "Unlike the Terrans, Asari, and Salarians who build their fleets around hit and run or raiding tactics, the Seran's follow Turian doctrine of massed firepower as proven during the battle of Asiyana. Coupled with their ability to use Slipspace, their fleets can be overwhelmingly powerful. Not only do standard MAC slugs match Turian weights for the most part, but they also employ Hammer of Dawn batteries on their capital ships to add additional firepower. We believe the staple of their fleet is massed fusion warhead munitions which they will employ by the thousands"

"Isn't that wasteful?" Tevos found herself asking, her interest drawn into the impromptu briefing.

"Very councilor. But if you shoot ten missiles laden with fusion warheads and only one gets through, you still damage or destroy the enemy vessel. They simply 'saturate' defensive batteries until something makes it through. Of course, they usually lead opening bombardments with a 'Thermic Slug' along with fusion warheads, which based on reports, burns at thousands of degrees and is capable of melting the heaviest naval armors"

"What about their super-dreadnaught? Can we match them?" Procus voiced, his tone wary of the answer.

The captain switched the holo image to show a new ship, bigger than the last. "Current estimations say that for every two point five Turian Dreadnaughts or capital vessels, a Seran Monitor can match them in battle. They are over two miles in length, wield four H.O.D.'s along with a 30kg main gun. This doesn't include secondary armaments, shields, defensive batteries or armor. They are built to endure extreme punishment like all Coalition capital ships. This has been proven at Reach where even outnumbered nearly 3-1, a lone dreadnaught and its accompanying squadron managed to cripple a full Hegemony fleet. To make light of Coalition fleets or the resolve of their crews would be of the greatest folly. They would be better as allies than as foes, councilors"

Procus gave a light chuckle. "And all we have to do is ensure a military alliance is to break past their mistrust of everybody, show we don't want to exterminate them or steal their technology and ensure we won't try to locate their worlds" Placing a clawed finger against near his crest, the Turian sighed. "At least we don't have to worry about the two humanities uniting and upsetting the balances of power in the galaxy"

"Based on that last meeting, I don't think the Coalition has a very favorable opinion of the Alliance. If it weren't for the war, we might actually have faced the possible conquest of Earth by the Serans"

"I won't argue about that possibility. The Seran's respect strength, merit, and hard work. To meet a branch of humanity that was practically handed FTL with few global conflicts, the Seran's no doubt view Terrans as lazy, weak and foolish. To them, respect has to be earned" Procus paused as the Captain left the chamber, then lightly rubbed his chin. "Tevos? How are efforts to re-establish communications with the CoG? After all, they did breech Republic borders"

Tevos let out her own frustrated sigh. "I've talked with several of our officers at Reach. Nothing untoward has occurred. They're still receiving adequate supplies for repair so long as they don't push too many issues. But in terms of contacting their government officials, there hasn't been anything at all. It could be because they know they crossed our border despite their previous stance, and fear retribution"

"Let's not forget the fact that they are fighting a two front war, Tevos. Against an enemy that is genocidally hostile to all sentient life. Most likely they're exploiting their recent victory and trying to take the fight to them. At least, that's what I would do in their position"

"But we can help them if they would just ask! Why do they have to be so difficult?"

Procus shrugged, his shoulders lightly rising. "How would we assist them in battle? Valae is the closest point of contact between your people, the Coalition and the Caliphate with it's lone relay. While I'm positive the STG is already surveying several dormant relays in the surrounding sectors of the Asari Republic, they might not find any possible link to our mutual enemies. Then if we ask Chairman Diaz for the slipspace drive, it would only anger them and raise mistrust on their part"

"We did secure a few badly damaged engines from the Caliphate. It will take time, but its possible we could reverse engineer them to bring our FTL speeds on par with the Coalition Navy" Tevos pointed out, causing a nod from her counterpart.

"True, but that could be months or years. Plus, even if we unlocked those secrets today, our fleets would need complete overhauls or full reconstruction" Shaking his head, Procus tapped a finger against the screen of his podium. "By that time, the war could be over and the balance of power will have shifted toward the Coalition. Right now, they field some of the strongest fleets in the known galaxy. It is imperative that no future aggression occurs between us. Fighting mutual enemies, even if its infeasible at the current time, could build a foundation of trust and hopefully, build a future of respect between us all"

Tevos looked grim, shifting to stare out of a nearby window into the swirling gases of the nebula cloud outside. "Unfortunately, many more will die before peace can occur. This war…will drag so many lives into its unforgiving flames"

Caliphate Territory. Bo'link system (Toad One) 22nd of Reap, 422 A.E.

Fifteen hundred and eighty three ships emerged from the swirling blues of slipspace 3.5 million miles from the stunning oranges of the fifth planet, a gas giant. Surrounded by its system of moons and the orbiting wreckage of the ravaged fleet yards, the world turned slowly as the Coalition vessels consolidated their position.

The previous attempt at invasion had been a false start, barely getting underway before battles savaged the 1st fleet along with losses among the 4th. Reorganization at Blaze was not only prudent, but necessary after Admiral Deshenko retired to Oceania for repairs and reinforcements. This would leave the 4th and 3rd to bear the brunt of the main invasion route, along with the actual ground forces once they reached the target world.

Of course, two full battle squadrons had been pulled from each fleet, their commanders pushing ahead to the neighboring systems. Not only to destroy any possible infrastructure, vessels or stations, but to serve as reinforced pickets and recon.

Alya Carmine leaned over the tactical display, the memories pulling at her momentarily from the previous year. She had visited genocide on the local population, the first clear offensive victory of the war…and the only one for nearly a year. All the others had been defensive victories, Coalition forces reacting to the vile actions of the Toads.

Now…now they were truly on the offensive. Raising a slender finger, she momentarily retracted the view to show interstellar space and the possible border of the Klor'vian Caliphate. The 2nd fleet under Admiral Akari had been pulled back into a defensive curvature near Vasgarnia, protecting possible counter-attack routes by the religious fanatics. Admiral Trescu of the 5th however, was on the move crossing the estimated border approximately six hundred and thirty light years 'north' of Valae.

His advance was in tune with her own command, hopefully forcing this enemy to divide forces whenever they chose to counter attack.

"Report" Alya demanded calmly, a hand idly brushing some of the orangish-red hair away from her eyes.

"All vessels reporting green across the board…hmm, curious" Sam muttered, her tiny form taking a stance as the A.I. worked.

"What is it?"

"I'm detecting no enemy vessels in the entire system. Not a single one"

"That can't be right. We've entered Caliphate space. They're fanatics. Why would they just leave a world open to invasion?" Carmine inquired, the oddity making her instincts flare with suspicion. "Contact the pickets and Commander Li of the 4th squadron. The moment those damn Toads make an appearance, I want to know about it…this is very out of character for them"

"I have some possible theories, Admiral" Sam voiced, her tone slightly snarky as she cocked a hip, code rippling along her form.

"Let's hear them" Alya asked as she returned to her command chair, crossing a leg as her ships began to move through the silent dark of the outer system toward the inner worlds.

"The first is that this is a trap, the Caliphate simply waiting for us to commit our forces. But based on their recent losses and our pickets extending outward of fifty light years from this system, this is unlikely to occur without some indication of attack" Sam's code rippled, the tiny woman toying with a boltok.

"What's the second?"

"It's entirely possible they simply abandoned the planet after your raid last year. The death toll was near total from combat records. Retrieving any survivors and taking them to their inner worlds would have been easily accomplished in the last year. Or they could have reinforced the ground in some minimal measure of resistance"

"If I were them, I'd dig in, make the enemy come to me and bleed them dry" Tapping a finger idly along the armrest of her chair, the female officer tried to think of any unknowns. "They could be using their forces to deal with Trescu's fleet. But to simply abandon a healthy, living world without a fight is not in their nature. Nor in ours"

"The moment we're in orbit around Toad One, I want full scans of the planet. Anything we can learn before hand helps the Gears achieve victory" Sitting back softly, Alya was confident in her reasoning and course of action as the combined fleets pushed through the void of vacuum to the colony world.

It was not a long wait. Barely an hour and a half later the mass of ships hung over the planet and it's tidally locked gas covered moon. The Pangaea type continent was just beginning to turn into the daytime rotation, most of it still untarnished wilderness and biomes of preserved life and wilderness. The ruins of dead cities along the coastlines sat silent, the firestorms and death long over as ashen remains of the population stared at the sky. Interior urban centers near several mountain chains appeared abandoned…but the Coalition knew better.

"Admiral. Sensors are picking up some faint transmissions between the interior mountain ranges along with evidence of defensive construction. Most likely defensive batteries and bunkers." The woman at sensors hit a few keys, adjusting the parameters of the Monitor's systems to begin a subterranean sonar ping of the planet. A tiny alarm blared from the console a few seconds later, the female officer reporting the latest find. "I'm reading heavy interference, but there is heavy evidence of extensive tunnel networks, passages and caverns inside the mountain ranges"

"So, they have dug in. Literally. Which means they do intent to fight. Comms? Have our pickets observed any enemy naval movement?"

"No ma'am" the young ensign reported, his fingers traversing the glowing, blue keys in a flurry. "All pickets are reporting no enemy movement"

Alya nodded, her instincts still flaring with suspicion. She still expected an attack at any time, but there was nothing. To simply wait because she felt uneasy and suspicious would be a foolish action. They were here to destroy this enemy and she wouldn't prevent that. "Begin the invasion. Have the 2nd squadron take orbital fire support. Rear Admiral Janner with the 3rd fleet will take a defensive position around the planet and moon. I don't want any surprises"

"Yes, Admiral!" the bridge crew said a little too loudly and with unhidden eagerness. They were in high spirits after all, finally taking the war to Caliphate shores.

Beyond the hulls of Anvil Gate and the mass of ships, four refitted colony transports, each carrying one hundred thousand gears and their needed equipment slid toward the planet. Surrounding them were four of the brand new Kaliso's, the assault transports disgorging thousands and thousands of drop pods in the upper atmosphere. Six regular division sized transports along with four dedicated to supplies hung back, allowing the first wave to do their job.

The serenity didn't last as multiple hidden plasma batteries sprang to life from the surface, unleashing stabbing arcs of green light at the naval forces above. Dozens of drop pods were consumed in fire as they fell, but the assault transports quickly targeted the sources…along with the full 2nd squadron. The raining bombardment flashed through the air, a tentative wave of thermic slugs and M.A.C. rounds to slam into the mountain ranges. Several beams of horrid light stabbed down from the Bryneton and Ashes of Victory, the Hammer of Dawn burning new swaths of destruction among the seen defenders. The defenses that had revealed themselves were consumed, the crews and weapons dying in burning heat or kinetic strikes, paving the way for the Gears.

Sergeant Lea Kaliso kept her breathing steady as her drop pod screamed toward the battlefield below. The helmet was stifling, echoing each change in tone of her breathing as the pod buffeted and rocked. Past the small port-hole, all she could see was friction flames as she returned her gaze to the Gear across from her. Geoff Nolan seemed competent, but like so many others, none had actually faced the Toads on the ground yet. He was green and untested, chock full of training.

Lea had done her best to impart her combat experience to not only her squad, but the whole of 6th company, which was part of the 17th Battalion.

She hoped some of it stuck.

The impact was sudden as the cushioning braces withdrew, keeping Gears from turning into jelly. The inertia cushion built into the pod was no doubt ruined, but that fact didn't even register with Lea as the door sprang off in a small burst of explosive bolts. "Out!" She urged while raising her lancer to face the enemy.

Hill 1015 had been 6th and 3rd company's landing zone, their flanks covered by the rest of the battalion landing at hills 813 and 799. Taking a glance upward as she removed her helmet, Lea saw more stabbing streaks of drop pods landing all along the spine of hills and smaller mountains of this continent spanning range.

No doubt the Toads would try to kill them all in minutes.

The surface was a craggy plateau, the northern end rising higher in a jutting spine of rock and outcroppings, littered with the fresh drop pods of her company. Fissures, craters, and dips in the uneven ground were hardly ideal, but it would serve them on the defense. "Lima squad! Let's move!" Kaliso waved, gathering the twelve men and women with her as the companies fanned out. Rushing forward across a tilted landscape ripe with crevices, she kept her rifle at the ready. Descending a small incline that faced the expanding hills and plains below, she could easily see the future landing zone of the main transports. They wouldn't be landing until her main division, the 9th Tri-Ostrian Rifles managed to secure and clear this sector of the range.

A cataclysmic wave of destruction and sound pulsed from dozens of impacts several miles further inside the mountain range, the naval bombardment continuing in the hopes of entombing the Toads in their labyrinths. Searing lances of light burned the sky, Hammer of Dawn fire joining thermic lances that seared the landscape well away from the drop zone.

"Damn. I hope that kills all those bastards" Private Mendoza voiced with a soft whistle. A larger man still wearing his helmet, he wielded the Scorcher of her squad, the tank large and bulbous on his back and full of jellied napalm.

"Don't get your hopes up. History has proven that a well dug in and prepared enemy can survive such firepower. Of course, that just means we get all the fun while the navy sits in their comfy chairs"

There was a small chuckle of laughter, a small easing of the fear each of them felt as the incline steepened downward in a twist of gnarled rocks and a barely walkable path.

Lima squad practically stumbled across the hidden observation bunker, the concrete and reinforced materials fused with the rock facades that were recessed into the mountain. Dirt covered tracks sat in the top soil, extending outward from a heavy, steel door.

Of course, these observations were taken in mere moments as snapping rifle fire poured out of the glassless opening. Private Tadder was caught in their fire, no less then six bullets punching against her armor before two broke through, exploding outward from her lower abdomen as she screamed.

"Shit!" Lea cursed as a nearby Gear scrambled and pulled the stricken soldier behind a low outcropping of rocks. The howling of gunfire cracked, pouring out as Tadder continued to howl from the safety of the incline, adding to the situation. Cries of 'Medic' rose from Private Vannel, the young soldier applying Kelto med-gel to the badly wounded Gear.

"Frag out!" Nolan howled, his voice muffled by the helmet as he exposed himself to enemy fire from around a low outcropping of boulders to the front. Throwing the explosive, he ducked back as the Toads inside poured more fire at him.

It exploded harmlessly, adding to the increasing echoes of battle that cascaded through the valleys and peaks around them.

Grinding of hinges and pulleys were barely heard above the din as Lea leaned around a standing pillar of rock. Opening fire on the recessed doorway, she heard an alien scream and howl. It didn't faze the three Klor'vian's from rushing out, their comrades supporting them with a snapping fusillade that spit and shattered the air around her.

Nolan blind-fired from the tiny outcrop, his bullets stitching across the tiny battlefield to strike one of the Toads. The alien staggered, but shrugged it off as the leader pushed forward, his face a patchwork of discolored scales and sharpened teeth.

Sergeant Kaliso felt her eyes widen at the sight of the enemy's rifle, the beast carrying a carbon copy of her own lancer.

"Die Seran filth!" the alien screamed in a spittle of rage and hate, the screaming teeth of his lancer already spinning as he charged toward her.

Lea answered in kind, hitting the switch of her own rifle as the teeth began to churn. Meeting in a clash of sparks and screeching metal, the alien sneered. "Your race is…weak!"

Kaliso braced her footing, her own rage at these inhuman monsters flooding her mind. "Eat shit and die!" Pushing back as the firefight raged around her, the muscles in her arms screamed as her strength managed to win the duel. Pushing downward past the Toad's defenses, the churning blades dug through the armor…then scaled flesh. It ruptured in a spatter of green blood and gore, spattering her chest-piece as flecks of scales flew past her squinted eyes.

Lea didn't care about the aliens screams of torment as she carved through the body, spreading more gore across the impacted ground. Rushing forward in a crouch, she reached one of the other toads trying to crawl toward the tracked opening. Picking up the dying alien, Lea used it as a bullet sponge to cross the lead filled space. Impacts shattered the broken armor, killing the alien as the veteran Sergeant reached a blindspot located on the left side of the bunker façade. "Mendoza! Burn that bunker, now! Rest of you, keep pouring fire into that doorway!" she commanded in a scream, her throat already dusty and dry with fear. Pulling a thermite grenade from her belt, Lea pressed the activation button as the safety catch popped off with a soft 'ping' Tossing it through the narrow bunker slit, she heard alarmed voices and shouts before it blew. Ducking away from the blast, Lea felt the heat and screams coming from inside.

She was fully aware of how hot those tiny bombs could burn flesh.

Private Mendoza sprinted up, the larger Gear carrying the large fuel tank on his back as the nozzle arm rose with his effort. Rushing up to the bunker slit, he cheered out with glee as searing hot napalm shot out in a stream of fire. "Burn baby, burn!"

Unholy shrieks erupted from within as the small group of wounded Klor'vian's burned to death, the flesh searing from their bones and under their armor. "Move Lima! Get in that bunker!" Kaliso urged, waving on the Gears as they rushed forward, breeching the open door. Rushing in, she saw a large artillery piece on tracks, no doubt homed in on the distant city ruins and possible landing sites.

The Toads probably didn't expect Gears to land on top of them, but to march through artillery fire and who knows what else. Now, they would have to divide their fire, at least for this sector anyway.

Her squad spread out, covering each other as they moved through the gloomy hallway literally carved out of the rock. Gunfire echoed from ahead, traveling the length of this labyrinth…no doubt from another observation slit facing the western approaches.

The ceiling shook, a thunder of crashing noise as dust rained down, dirtying her black hair and smudging her tattoos.

"What the hell? Is fleet bombing us?" Nolan asked softly, his helmeted gaze glancing upward as more impacts shook the ceiling.

"I doubt it. Probably toads blasting the top of this hill from another damn hill further into this damn chain of rock"

The lights flickered, showing the floating particles of dust as more Gears entered the bunker behind her.

"We set up a first aid and command post on this top floor. No way in hell will I let my company sit under the gaze of those damn toads" Captain Galwich proclaimed as he strode past the artillery piece. "Sergeant Kaliso. Secure this floor"

"Sir" she complied, moving forward toward the alien shouts and gunfire filling the air ahead. Compiled with the increased bombardment that constantly shook the walls, it was highly doubtful that the enemy heard their approach.

New gunfire erupted from halfway down the length of the hill, a scream of death, hatred and churning lancers.

Another observation bunker that looked out of the sheer hill face had been cleared, the stink of blood rising from a group of five Klor'vians and a now dead Private Holitz…his body ripped apart by lancer teeth.

Lea ignored the ragged corpse and horrid gore splatters. Nothing could be done for the dead as she rose her lancer, pushing forward through the widening passageway that came to a T- intersection. Shouts and more alien grunts drew closer along with rapid footfalls from below and forward, causing Kaliso to lower behind a few metallic crates of supplies.

Four of the aliens came rushing down the remaining length of the hallway from the north, no doubt the last team of observers.

"Nolan. Vance. Pour it into them" Lea ordered with dispassion. A grunt of exertion…then the thud of a grenade being thrown from the side passage sent alarms through Lea. "GRENADE!" the woman shouted before crouching down.

It exploded in a harsh, green light, spreading shards of plasma heat though the tunnel. Nolan was hit, screams erupting from the young man as the greenish material ate through his armor…then his flesh.

"MEDIC!" Vance howled out as Lea popped up, firing a long burst at the first Toad to round the corner. Ten bullets smashed into the frontal armor plate, the last four managing to shatter the material and rip through the scale flesh underneath. Only a small sigh of death rose from the dying alien as Lea ducked back, more bullets ripping through the air. Some impacted the crates, sparking like angry wasps as more of her squad moved up, pouring outgoing fire that raged back and forth.

It was murderous for her health as rifle rounds continued to fly above her head. Blindfiring over the lip of cover, she unleashed the remains of her current magazine down the hallway. Quickly reloading, Vance threw a standard frag while another Gear threw smoke, filling the carved passageway with noise, dust and billows of gray smoke.

"Hell yeah! Time for some crispy frog legs!" Mendoza howled out as he rushed up in the smoke. Unleashing a jet of napalm down the hallway, the jellied fuel stuck to surfaces and flesh as Toads burned in horror and dying screams. A bullet impacted his chest piece, knocking the man backward in a painful stagger, but he recovered as Lima squad continued to push forward.

Lea slammed her back against the craggy rocks, hugging the corner to the side passage…just as a Toad peeked around the corner, coming almost eye level with her. Its eyes blinked in a vertical surprise, momentarily stunned before both creatures reacted. "SERAN!" It cried with a lunge, trying to bring its lancer to wield in a tight turn of movement.

She barely managed to swing her own rifle, howling in desperation as the butt connected with his facial structure. There was a loud crack of splintering jaw bones from the blow, only adding to the alien's rage and pain. Managing to revert her stance, Lea fired off two quick shots into the central armor plate, buckling the material and staggering the foe backward.

"Sarge! Move!"

Kaliso rolled to the side, a feat of agility she really didn't think as Mendoza sprinted up, the nozzle of his scorcher lit with a tiny flame. He stabbed into the weakened armor spot, pushing the nozzle into scaled flesh…then squeezed the trigger. Napalm tore through the body in a surge of fire, erupting from the mouth and eyes in a howl of death while flesh burned and cracked.

Scrambling toward cover as more gunfire snapped the air around her, she braced against the far corner as Mendoza took up the side opposite of her. Sergeant Kaliso risked a glance, finding a carved staircase leading downward…and three more Toads taking up the middle platform between levels. Two were behind a cluster of supply crates, another at the platform corner, his visage a snarl of hatred. Rearing back as bullets snapped and dug away rock chips, the woman gave the next order. "Vance, Mendoza! Toss some thermite!"

The two privates complied, pulling the grenades off their belts before popping the safeties and tossing them down the stairwell of carved rock. Shouts erupted and scrambling movement, but the two bombs burst, sending horrid shards of thermite in all directions.

"MOVE!" Lea roared out, the Sergeant already rushing down the stairs burned with heat. One of the Toads had been blown apart, his guts and flesh coating the walls. The other two howled with agony, their bodies like pincushions of embedded shards that still glowed with heat. Stepping on the chest of the nearest, Lea flipped the switch of her lancer, hate in her eyes before plunging the spinning blades into the genocidal monster that burned her colony. Green blood spattered her shins and legs, a tearing of viscera as Vance killed the other wounded with a heavy boot to the cranium.

Rushing down the rest of the stairs, Lima squad stacked up on either side, knowing more of the aliens were waiting for them. A small alcove for storage had been dug out of the rock across from the stairwell, half empty.

"Three of you with me. We rush across. The rest of you, secure cover and kill the enemy. Gillick. Pop some smoke" she ordered as another female Gear moved up, quickly tossing the grenade into the hallway. It blew with a puff, billowing white as the troops rushed forward.

Bullets immediately began to fly from hasty defensive positions erected by the Toads, the lead snapping above heads and tearing fissures into the tendrils of dust and smoke. Gillick cried out, a bullet smashing into her shoulder pauldron, but kept running toward the alcove. Taking cover at the corner, Lea leaned out and fired off a string of rounds downrange knowing she would likely not hit anything. Pulling back as her squad took up positions among small outcroppings and other tiny bits of cover.

The carved stairwell continued downward toward the next level, already being rushed by 1st platoon and Lieutenant Hoskilitz.

It wasn't long until gunfire and echoes of grenade bursts rose from that stairwell, mixed with howls of death and screams.

But Lima squad still had to secure this floor. Leaning out once more, Kaliso fired a long burst, targeting a shifting movement down range behind a stack of crates and impromptu tables. Incoming fire was heavy as the smoke filtered and came apart…and there was no room for her squad to move forward. The rock hallway was straight with no places of cover for the Gears, giving the Toads a sixty yard killzone to exploit as the defenders of this floor continued to take potshots from their barricade.

Private Vance rose up, opening fire with a burst. A bullet tore through the lens of his helmet, killing the young man instantly as his body dropped.

"Damn!" Sergeant Kaliso cursed, knowing that the man was already dead as the Toads mockingly shot up the body for fun.

"Stupid Serans! Look at how easily you die!" A voice rose with a mocking roar, laughter mixed in before more gunfire ripped the air, keeping heads low. The Gears returned fire, filling the air with deadly lead and munitions as both groups came to an impasse.

"Thermic Team! Get your asses down here!" Kaliso roared out, returning fire in the bare hope of killing a Toad. Most of those rounds impacted the barricade downrange, sparking uselessly as counterfire raged moments later.

Two men rushed down the steps, one carrying a large tube as the other hefted the pack of spare munitions. Both helmeted, the lead man crouched at the hallway corner on one knee, bracing the weapon on his shoulder.

"Clear!" his partner roared over the din of gunfire exchange as several bullet snapped by the team like deadly wasps. Corporal Halloan fired, a rush of back-blasting heat erupting from the rear end while a stabbing lance of melting heat burned forward in a flash of light. The slug burned at 4,000 degrees, almost melting the walls in its passage before it slammed into the barricade. Splashing metal blew outward, infantry armor, flesh, and simple metallic crates nothing compared to the shaped charge meant for tanks or bunkers. But, it worked great for splash damage…which is what it did.

The Klor'vian's unfortunate to live thrashed and burned, half their scales melted off as unimaginable heat flared their nerves in unimaginable agony.

"Secure the floor!" Kaliso roared out, rushing forward with several Gears. She could feel the heat coming off the walls, almost pulsating with licks of fire. Reaching the former barricade, most of the enemy had perished in the initial blast, only leaving four badly wounded alive.

They were hastily executed without mercy. Rushing toward the end of the bunker hallway, the Gears found no other enemies alive in the last observation slit, leaving the floor secure. Carved out of the 'southern' end of hill 1015, the concrete bunker partially wrapped around the southern end, giving a view of the neighboring hill 799. The shallow valley between the two formations was a pockmarked hellscape of craters, boulders and a connecting line trench.

The trench was deserted, the enemy not risking being outside during the bombardment. But most likely, they were fighting the Gears that had breeched their own hill.

Retrieving her binoculars, the robust equipment soon zoomed in as the Sergeant tried to spot some enemy movements. Something shifted in a small concrete bunker dug into the hill above the slit trench hundreds of feet below, no doubt meant to bring down murderous fire in the event of a line breech. There were two Toads, stationed at two machine guns that would bring terrible fire on anybody stupid enough to traverse the trench between the hills.

Pulling the oculars away from her eyes, Kaliso gave a roar.

"Corporal Halloan!"

The Thermite team rushed up, the long weapon dangling from his back as Lea pointed downward. "Destroy that bunker"

"You got it, Sarge" the man said with a hint of jovialness.

"Lima squad! Don't get comfy! We still have a hill to clear!" Lea shouted out as she moved away, heading down the ash and bullet pocked hallway. Stopping at the corpse of Vance, the woman crouched and retrieved one of his Cog tags, quickly pocketing it. A backblast of noise rumbled the passage, shaking dust loose as Corporal Halloan fired on the enemy nest.

Double checking her lancer, the mag was full as Lea waved on her squad. "Lets move Gears, the enemy isn't going to kill themselves" Rushing down the next flight of stairs, they quickly rejoined the ragging battle.

It would take nearly a full day to clear the labyrinth of bunkers, strong points, and passageways. 6th Company would have thirty eight confirmed dead and another twenty two wounded, nearly a third of the total starting strength of one hundred and seventy men and women. 3rd Company fared slightly better…but not by much.

Still, the 9th Tri-Ostrian Rifles secured their main objective by the end of day one, the divisional sector secure despite heavy casualties that rose to nearly 2,100 hundred out of a total strength of 13,500 Gears. Contacting the main transports, reinforcements landed in the ruined city beyond, pushing forward to the next objective by early morning.

The 12th and 15th Tri-Ostrian Fusilier's took even heavier losses to the north and south, each division bearing casualties ranging over 3,000. The battles in those sectors had been terribly ferocious, some reports of Serans and Toads beating each other to death with rocks, knives and fists in an unimaginable hatred of bloodlust and battle.

Of course, the naval bombardment continued. A roaring barrage of burning light and MAC rounds that walked up and down the mountain chain hour after hour. The 20th Anvengad Artillery took up a home on top of Hills 1015, 799 and 813, airlifted into place and immediately firing a hellish barrage into the next nest of hills and low mountains….sometimes they were depressed so far they could've acted like anti-armor pieces. But no, they blasted any observed nest, bunker or observation slit as the Gears pushed forward below.

The intersecting valleys of 1015, 1180 and Hill 810 beyond became known as the Meatgrinder by day four. A horrible trench network of hardened, hidden bunkers, barbwire, and machine gun nests carved into the rising hills. Strike craft and bombers roared in from high orbit, dropping searing napalm daily in an effort to burn out the Toads, but they kept up their murderous fire, butchering full platoons into mere squads in hours.

Withdrawing into the secured hills by day six, A limited hammer strike was finally needed to burn out the hated Toads…and even after the firestorm, some strong points persevered to enact more death and murderous fire into forward units.

Lea Kaliso's company was withered down to forty three effectives by day seven when the Gears finally broke out, breeching the mentioned hills and bunker doors of this central sector. Out of her original squad, only three survivors left the line by the time they were relieved…including herself.

2nd of Harvest, 422 A.E. Southern Front.

Two weeks. It took Army Group South two weeks of bloody harsh combat among hollowed out hill bunkers, murderous fire, artillery, mortars, and hastily dug trench lines to reach the crater blasted freeway wedged between a trio of orbital blasted hills. The front was a nightmare of slogging ferocity stretching nearly one hundred miles north to south, butting up against Army Group Center to their north.

The freeway had presumably been to link cities separated by the Pangea length mountain ranges, the passage dug through nearly five miles of mountains. This was obvious to anybody as this ribbon of concrete did connect to a former city sitting on the southern shore, its skyline resembling a broken jaw of jagged teeth and billowing ash among the dead populace.

Of course, the encompassing theater of this invasion was far larger than what Major Chaz Illum had to contend with.

Now in command of 2nd Battalion, the veteran of Blaze crouch walked behind the trailing Centaur M.B.T, the company of tanks pushing along the pitted and crumbling road chewed up by war. A few alien vehicle husks rusted along the shoulders, but nobody cared. His company commanders spread out across the pavement lanes, many of the troops using the tanks as mobile cover. The whole division, the 20th Oceanian Armored was pushing hard in this sector, the supporting Battalions already scratching out a foothold halfway upward the flanking hills

After all, the incoming fire from the freeway tunnel entrance was murderous. Supporting bunkers and strong points had been dug into the hills surrounding the roadway and visibly distant tunnel, spitting a constant crescendo of death and fire.

"Keep moving! If you stay still, you die!" Chaz bellowed out as bullets careened and sparked off the tank before him. A blast of sharp green erupted from a hidden pillbox to the left hill, burning through the lead tanks armor.

Chaz was glad he wasn't close enough to hear those men scream and die.

Another Centaur clanked to a halt, the turret slowly turning to the perpetrator. A staggering boom thunderclapped the area, the gunner sending high explosive into the Toad nest. Firing again after a few seconds, chunks blew from the concrete as the aliens died in a flash of fire and heat. Moving forward once more, the armor crews began laying down 7.62 mm fire from their secondaries. That staccato of hell and noise was only interrupted by H.E. or armor piecing shells, each shot targeting a strongpoint as the combined force moved forward under heavy fire.

Screams erupted from the majors right, two men taken down by automatic rifle fire. It came from a trench line literally dug across the tunnel entrances roadway, the front surrounded by fields of hastily strung barbwire.

Chaz knew it was too much to ask for those damn Toads to jump up and charge them. No…they had learned some harsh lessons and planned on the Seran's coming to them. He hated to admit it, but they had done a decent job on defense with only a few hasty officers launching foolish infantry attacks in the open.

He could appraise his company commanders of the coming trench line, but they knew their jobs and had eyes. He didn't want to be one of those overbearing, nitpicking officers…especially in the middle of this hellscape.

Crumping explosions walked forward, burst of shrapnel from mortar shells from recessed pits dug by the Klor'vian's. Hidden behind the main trench, they supported the infantry as the Gears and armor surged closer and closer.

Some found Gears, blowing off legs and arms…ripping body armor with burning shrapnel as rifle fire continued to pour outward.

The armor spat flame from their long guns, H.E. targeting a few of the remaining nests surrounding the tunnel entrance fifty feet upward. Moving forward with a tremble of treads and clanking machinery, the Centaurs crushed the barbwire, paving the way.

Gears rushed low and fast past the tanks, more taking heavy bursts of rifle fire as they dropped. Some dead…some writhing in agony as comrades surged past. They dropped into the trench, facing the hated Klor'vian's as men and women shot and stabbed. Some engaged in lancer duels with the vile Toads, Seran and alien dying by churning teeth and hellish screams. Flamethrowers spat flame down connecting trenches, burning flesh and causing more waves of deaths without any sense of mercy.

Some of the nearby bunkers embedded in the mountain face continued to pour machine gun fire into the Gears, their angle sharp and high.

Chaz reached the trench minutes later, bullets from his right flank etching pits across the dirt and pavement as they tried to end his life. Jumping down, he landed in a pile of gristle, green blood splashing his boots as rifle reports echoed. Racing toward the far right, bullets continued to march along the lip as the Toads above tried to bring their machine guns to bear on the gathering troops. Ducking down at the end of the trench near another pile of viscera as more soldiers surrounded him, the Major pressed two fingers to his ears. "Captain Ivonik! Clear those damn hill bunkers! They'll chew up any units following us!"

"Captain's KIA, Major. This is Lieutenant Dalyell"

"Lieutenant. Grab some Gears and find a way into those bunkers still sighting the freeway. Clear them all, understand?"

"Yes sir!"

"All companies! Keep up the pressure and clear out any of these bastards you find. If we can secure the surrounding hills, we can link up with our sister units and finally punch through into their inner defenses!"

He didn't mean to shout over the comm net, but the noise was so damn loud he wouldn't be surprised if he loss some hearing today. Hefting his lancer, Major Illum trotted forward, passing dead and mangled bodies on both sides. Some were shot…others blown apart or burned to charred flesh. Even more were chewed up by lancer teeth…a horrible way to die. Gears were pushing into carved tunnels of rock, most likely the passages linking with the bunker network in the hills outside. Gunfire and shouts echoed from within along with screams of death.

They left the short trench network, the gloom of the tunnel overhead casting shadows on the now dead mortar teams in the dug-outs.

Green blood and chunks of blown apart gore painted the ground. Some of the greenish entrails of a Klor'vian coated one of the mortars, steam still rising from the ribbony flesh. Pressing forward into the freeway tunnel, Major Illum scrunched his face as most of it was devoid of light. He couldn't even see the far end…assuming it was still open and not caved in by orbital bombardment. "You Gears secure a perimeter. We'll set up a command post and aid tent here" A blast of napalm and fire billowed out from one of the cliffside bunkers, a few alien bodies tumbling out as their flesh cooked and flamed. One of them was somehow alive, struggling to stand.

A Centaur drove over the enflamed monster, crushing it beneath large treads as flames petered out.

Within two hours, the 20th Oceania Armored Division had driven a dagger into the Klor'vian line. Advancing into the inner mountain tunnels, the unit managed to breech the adjoining bunker network by days end. While fighting would rage for another nine days, by the end, Army Group South would roll up nearly three hundred thousand enemy troops, killing them all in a merciless action through miles of subterranean bunker networks, passages and living quarters.

By the 13th of Harvest, the two army groups would manage to link up, turning Northward in a relentless, horrid drive of grinding warfare and constant orbital bombardment.

In all, it would take sixty three harsh, bloody days to secure the planet and kill the last of the defenders who died behind their guns, trying to enact a final butchery against the Serans.

System AS-55-HLL1 (3,913 ly beyond Asari Space. North-East of Central Galactic Core)

5th of Bounty 422. A.E.

The survey frigate wasn't a standard Asari warship, trading most of its firepower for sensors and scientific equipment. Shaped more like a flattened wing-swept aircraft of ages past, it could only boast a crew of one hundred and twenty Asari naval personnel.

Sliding away from the recently activated Secondary Mass Relay, the lone vessel quickly entered the gulf of space between the systems worlds. Part of an extensive network of linked systems stretching all the way to the Northern Republic border colony of Zesmeni.

Laya T'lana did not remember that mining dump of a world fondly. An ammonium atmosphere with subterranean colonies and orbital stations, the planet was home to a mere 180,000…a third of them Krogan from the nearby DMZ.

At least the heavy deposits of Tritanium and the smelting factories would find an industrial boon from the war.

T'lana had left that desolate system nearly fifty three days ago, flying her brand new command into the unknown. She was recently promoted to lieutenant in the survey corps, but it had been hasty. No doubt a reaction to the butchery their people had experienced two months ago. At an age of 183 years, she was barely out of maidenhood with purple tinted skin and a warm smile. While attractive like many of her species, she had no desire to simply be a dancer in some seedy clubs across the galaxy like so many of her fellow sisters.

No, she wanted to discover something amazing and grand. Lost Prothean ruins, an ancient, peaceful civilization.

But the war put those desires and dreams on hold.

The standard cautions and protocols of activating dormant relays had been waived in light of the war, a motion forwarded by the Salarians and quickly approved by the full Council.

While in normal times this ship would be responsible for surveying possible resource deposits of valuable minerals and gases, notably unrefined veins of Element Zero, that part of her job had been pushed aside.

Finding a route toward the Caliphate was the primary goal, but the last seven activated relays her ship had passed through had been duds. Well…not entirely. There had been a world viable for terraforming in the second system, but that prospect would be on hold for now.

Turning her head as the distant, dim sun struggled to bathe the bridge in rudder, brownish orange light, she propped her head on her palm.

"Vella? Anything interesting on sensors?"

The female at sensors stirred, deftly reading the incoming data while hitting some keys of the hard-light keyboard.

"It's a dead system. Three inner rocky planets with no natural satellites. A fourth gas giant of ammonium, methane and hy—wait. Ma'am, sensors are detecting a dormant relay in orbit around the giant" Vella turned, her gaze serious. "Readings indicate a Primary Relay"

"Dormant?"

"Yes"

"Callae. Get us closer. Once we're in range, we activate"

Laya tried to hide the nervousness of her voice as the pilot entered a fresh course. The last time a Primary Relay had been activated with such haste…the Rachni Wars had broken out. Staggering, brutal conflicts that had lasted nearly 300 years.

She whispered a silent prayer that history wouldn't repeat itself and a new, hostile race would emerge. The current conflict was already bad enough.

The sublight engines burned a soft blue, barely a pinprick of light among the silent system devoid of life. In an hour, they reached the relay, its massive size dwarfing the scout ship. Continuing its slow orbit around the ruddy, orange gas giant , the gyroscopic rings were silent as ice coated half the floating monolith.

"No detectable damage. But then, the Prothean's built the relays to last millennia" Vella informed with a low tone of awe.

After all, nobody knew how that ancient race built such an incredible network across the galaxy.

There was no way to tell where this Relay would open. But being a Primary, it was likely to be at least a few thousand light years. Nodding as she tried to calm her nerves, she knew this was a whole other monster than Secondaries. Most of those were local, separated by a few hundred lightyears…sometimes only thirty. It was quite easy to point some deep space telescopes in the proper direction and build an assessment.

That was not the case here. Giving one more silent prayer, Laya voiced her next order. "Activate it. Then prepare a system survey probe"

"Ma'am' the few Asari on the bridge voiced, going about their duties to prepare their survey in the coming days.

The Relay glowed with activation, the central core burning a harsh, azure blue as strings of soft light traversed the length. Most of the ice was gone, thrown away two days prior to float slowly downward to the gas giant.

"Is the probe ready?"

"Yes ma'am. Ready to traverse the relay on your order" Vella informed quickly as shifting shadows of blue poured into the bridge.

"Then launch immediately" Laya ordered.

The torpedo sized unmanned probe launched, its tiny drive core linking with the nearby relay as it flew closer. In a flash of light, it was gone.

"I'm getting telemetry! Unknown system is approximately twenty four hundred light years galactic South-East of our position!" Vella said loudly. Anticipating the next order, the crewman patched the data to a larger screen. Visibility flickered for a moment, the probe avoiding a tumbling asteroid of ice and regolith tumbling freely. Emerging from a cloud of dust, the sensors almost burst with incoming data from the third planet, the transmissions of an advanced species flooding the arrays. Camera's and lenses magnified, observing dozens of orbital structures…and vessels.

"Probe is detecting hundreds of engine drives…Goddess! They match the Caliphate!"

Static buzzed the screen, a harsh wasping noise of static.

"It was destroyed, ma'am" Vella informed, her fingers dancing as Laya clutched the armrests of her chair. "Send an immediate transmission to the Council immediately! Set a course for the Secondary!"

"Yes ma'am!" Callae shouted loudly, the immediate realization of their find hammering home. Turning the ship in a wide arc, the pilot pushed the engines hard as the data packet surged ahead of them through the connecting relay.

They didn't know if the Toads could use the relays, but they didn't want to find out. Reaching the Relay in record time, the scout vessel surged through in a flash of light, leaving the dead system and its now vital importance.

The Asari had just found a viable attack route to the Caliphate.

Tenvor'ti. High Temple of Klorta. 8th of Bounty. 422 A.E.

There was a slight chill clinging to the humidity of the air, the colder season of the swampy planet rearing its ugly head. While snow and frost only collected at the northern and southern portions of the Klor'vian homeworld, some of that chill did reach the capital on occasion.

Sitting at the head of the long table inside the High Priests Holy Chamber, Supreme Priest Y'larv sat patiently as Fleetmaster Tril'va finished his report. Even as the hologram flickered, many of the gathered officers and lower priests created a wide berth.

None wanted to share his coming fate.

Extending a lone hand of emerald green scales, a single claw tip tapped the stone table.

The low sound was like a gunshot, eliminating any low words or mumbles of talk. Yellow eyes boring across the table, the being wrapped in silken garments and jewels slightly narrowed his eyes at the bowing officer. "This report is accurate? You didn't stage any counter-attack nor attempted to retake Bo'link from the Seran vermin and their pollution?"

"No Supreme Priest. They attacked and secured the system and surrounding spaces with at least two full fleets. With our recent losses, a defensive strategy to safe guard Le'hak and her orbital facilities was deemed a priority by myself"

"Yet you abandoned over a million of our troops on our sacred world, letting the Seran's grind them into dust over nearly two months of inaction. Surely a massed Corvette assault would have disturbed them…even led to short victory?"

"The corvette numbers were recently decimated. Rebuilding their strength to work in unison with our main forces to destroy their naval forces in one attack would be the best use of our brave volunteers and believers. Piecemeal attacks of small formations would have led to no gain" Tril'va breathed deeply, steadying his nerves despite the distance of hundreds of light years. "I understand that the ground forces managed to inflict heavy casualties on the Seran filth despite the unfathomable orbital drop the first day. Even with their treacherous victory, their infantry morale will be crushed by such losses"

Stroking his scaled chin, the priest slowly contemplated the words spoken before continuing in the low chill of thick air. "And what of this…incursion at Vio'shelek? That sacred world along our Western border is home to nearly a billion of our blessed children of Klorta. Not to mention an expansive fleet yard and the newly activated 6th Subjugation fleet. To have it tainted by such a monstrosity of alien engineering is disgusting to my eyes"

"We believe it's a transportation device used by the sub-vermin Asari hidden in one of the smaller ice moons. They managed to glean data from a probe before it was destroyed. They are weak and only desire to talk about culture. They can only achieve strength because of their neighbors. Without these…Turians, our forces could easily crush them within the year"

Tril'va might have laid on the rhetoric a little too thick, but this was the tone the priests enjoyed tohear. To show any respect or faltering opinion toward these newly found aliens would be comparable to treason against the church.

Y'larv decided quickly. "Execute the security and information officer in charge of that system. Their failure is an affront to our god" Turning his sharp gaze back to the fleetmaster, he went still. "Our new Dreadnaughts will be ready in the coming weeks, their crews and officers trained and ready. You will take one as your flagship and launch a counter-attack at the end of the month. You will re-take Bo'link and cleanse her holy surface of the vermin. Bo'klar and the 3rd fleet will meet with the minimal incursions to our south and burn them from our borders, showing the supreme wrath of our god and might"

His words were not debatable by scholars or decree. This is the course of action sent and it would be followed.

"May the will of Klorta guide us" Tril'va said with passion, his head bowed in respect before the image flickered out of view.

"The tests of our god continues, but we will prevail in his name, securing all worlds to protect the sanctity of life" Y'larv droned with confidence before standing sharply. His prayers had been pushed aside for this meeting, and to delay further was an affront to his soul. Striding from the room with a sway of his silken robes, the Supreme Priest walked further into the ancient temple to pray.

The Widow System. Citadel Council. 8th of Bounty

Tevos practically preened with pride at the sudden and unexpected turn of events. The discovery of a relay to Caliphate space had metaphorically burned through the network from their scout ship, spreading to Thessia and to herself within hours.

Obviously, when the news had reached Councilor Procus, he had immediately called a session with the Primarch and the navy to begin shifting naval assets.

Tevos wasn't sure who Junisa was informing, but odds were high it was somebody in the STG…who would then relay fresh orders to personnel nobody knew existed.

The Alliance ambassador would be appraised within the hour despite the later time for government functionaries. But first, Tevos would inform the Coaliton they located a Klor'vian world…and keep the information from them.

It was time to meet face to face and develop a mutual strategy. If Chairman Diaz refused to even do that, then there really wouldn't be any possibility of working together.

"The Serans wouldn't just ignore this information. They can't unless they're just as insane as the Toads. Talks have to proceed if we are to defeat our common enemies and build a lasting peace"

Holographic light particles gathered at the pedestal along the left wall of the chamber, showing a bald man in the normal tunic of the Coalition navy…despite the flickering blues and whites. He was somebody she was unfamiliar with.

"Hello. I would like to speak with Chairman Diaz"

The male made a gruff sound. "I am Fleet Lord Jacab Stratton. For what purpose do you wish to speak with the Chairman? Is the council planning on a pointless censure or a foolish diplomatic act over our breech of your borders? Because she has better things to do then be ignored despite our warnings of Caliphate intentions"

His tone was clipped and clear, his stance rigid as his gaze bore at the councilor. Straightening her back, Tevos clasped her hands behind her back. "No, the Council is in full agreement that this holy war of our mutual enemy must be halted. I believe our recent discovery of a Mass Relay leading to a Caliphate world will be enough to open a permanent dialogue along with a mutual military strategy"

Stratton narrowed his gaze. "I assume you won't be sharing this information quite yet"

"No. However, we will open the Citadel to a diplomatic mis—"

"No. Diverting military assets just to visit your space station, on top of our travel time is unacceptable" Jacob Stratton looked down, some other minor task grabbing his attention. "I will inform Chairman Diaz of your request and this new information that bears on the war. We will transmit our response in twenty-six hours. After that, if favorable, a mission will be mutually planned between our governments" The main momentarily paused. "Make sure this won't be a waste of time, Councilor"

The transmission ended, the particles of light fading away leaving the chamber in silence. "Goddess, I think Diaz is actually more polite than that man" Tevos muttered, placing a few fingers along her forehead as she thought. Having the Seran's coming to the Citadel had been her plan, place a little awe in them and humility, but that course of action was already moot.

"At least we finally have something they're interested in. From there, we can create more avenues of dialogue, diplomacy and perhaps…trade" The wheels in her mind began to turn, creating a haste as she had a mere day to come up with a viable mission between the Citadel Council and the Coalition. Rushing to her office, calls would have to made quickly.

System KC-013 (Approximately 980 ly north of Valae, Inside Caliphate Space) 22nd Of Bounty 422.A.E.

Adrian Trescu read the latest action report provided by a Battlecruiser squadron and her sixteen destroyers in the neighboring star system. The small command in question had destroyed an orbital helium refinery and two enemy frigates, but other than that, most of the picket forces had been quiet.

The silence was un-nerving.

When his fleet had entered Caliphate space several weeks prior, he had fully expected an un-ending barrage of combat and losses. Instead? Sensor stations, a few minor refineries and unarmed freighters that his forces had quickly destroyed. The biggest catch was a minor fleet yard last week and destroying fifty of those damn corvettes along with the yard itself.

"It's like they packed up the whole sector. Or it was just barren to begin with" The Admiral voiced to himself in a low mumble. Tapping the datapad, he highlighted the next item.

Estimated casualties during the invasion of Toad one were horrific. Out of nearly 600,000 men and women, close to 109,000 were confirmed dead or wounded. Which, considering the enemy forces numbered one to one and a half million, was actually surprising. The surprise orbital drop assault breaking the initial lines coupled with unending bombardment definitely played a factor, but still…that was like losing a full fleet in terms of lives.

"And the savagery. The sheer brutality of infantry actions over two months of action…" Adrian sighed in contemplation. At least they were finally taking the fight to the bastards instead of fighting inside Seran territory.

Once again, he was glad his military career was in the navy and not slogging through a blood-soaked valley of machine gun fire, napalm, and death. Tapping the tablet surface, he read the next report with expressed interest.

The Councilors, along with a delegation from the System Alliance would be arriving at Reach next week to begin official talks. From what he understood about it, their ten ships would have to be 'towed' to Pandora just to reach the relay there.

A small indignity suffered by the supposed masters of the galaxy.

However these talks proceeded, he was glad not to have to deal with the whole situation. He'd rather be out here or at home with his family.

Once again, he thanked the workings of fate and the Allfathers that Nova Gorasnaya had not seen any semblance of the war.

Von stirred at the adjoining pedestal, the floating cube's colors shifting between black, green and yellow before cycling to a bright turquoise as lines of code rippled. "Admiral, naval pickets across the system have detected Caliphate ships"

Adrian set down the pad, his face forming into a scowl. "How many?"

"Five. Past the outer asteroid belt and seventh planet"

"Probably pickets of their own" Stroking his chin, the Admiral's green eyes became focused in an instant. "Inform the fleet of probably enemy contact. Defensive envelope"

"Sir" Von replied with a clipped tone, his cube shape rippling as the main fleet body rose to readiness among the desolate void of open space. Sub-light engines flared a harsh blue as hundreds of ships spread out over countless miles. Taking station outside the gravity well of a planet nearly cracked in half, Adrian's command waited in silence.

Communications buzzed, prompting the floating cube to stir.

"Admiral. Incoming transmission from Fleet Lord Stratton"

A brisk nod from Adrian had the holo-table visage replaced by the highest ranked officer in the navy. A small ripple of light danced across the blue-tinted man, the wrinkles of fatigue prominent.

"Adrian, I'm giving you fresh orders. You are to fall back to Vasgarniya immediately and support the 2nd fleet in a defensive position"

That was a shock to say the least. But Trescu quickly recovered with practiced calm. Orders changed all the time, but to pull him away from the front needed an explanation. "Sir. May I ask why? We're pushing into Caliphate territory and so far, resistance has been minimal. We both know the Toads won't stay quiet forever"

"I realize that. But I'm sure you've also heard the rumors the Asari found one of their worlds. If the Chairman can negotiate an effective military alliance with the Council and time it right, we could really kick these bastards down. I'm talking spreading them so thin they have no choice but to watch their worlds burn"

Adrian could see the logic. Right now his fleet was the only one advancing, but if they were to launch an invasion with the 2nd and several Council fleets, it could really cripple the Caliphate, maybe finally turn the tide of the war.

"Sir. We'll depart within the hour"

"Good. Appraise Central command if you run into any trouble" The image flashed out of existence, returning the table to show the current system of rocks and floating worlds. Leaning back, Adrian cradled his chin in the palm of his hand. "Well, you heard him, Von. Head for Vasgarniya"

3rd Subjugation Fleet. System KC-017 (Nine ly north of the Coalition fleet)

Fleetmaster Bo'klar could feel the raw newness of his new flagship, the Dreadnaught Havo'oc. Stretching nearly 1.5 miles and wielding two plasma beam focusers…along with an impressive array of defenses and plasma warhead launchers, the Havo'oc would wield great power on the battlefield.

He just hoped the shields and armor were up to the task of facing the Seran super dreadnaughts. But if he were to attack with his upgraded Cruisers, Battleships and their burning lances of plasma, it would be possible to slay the vessel.

"Assuming they haven't come up with any new tricks themselves" The Klor'vian thought with a hard scowl. Studying the glowing holo-table, the officer contemplated the next move of his rebuilt and upgraded fleet.

Most of his ships orbited at the high altitude of the largest gas giant in the system, the turbulent winds and storms below a minor affair. Ringed by seven moons, twelve hundred and eight vessels sat well within the gravity wells, including three hundred corvette craft.

The location was essential for defense against Coalition ships. Too often they sprung traps and enacted hideous losses on Caliphate forces, all because they could jump in and out of system with their slipspace drives.

Not this time. This time, he would bait them into attacking by stringing out a few expendable ships. And while Bo'klar didn't expect to completely cripple or destroy the approaching enemy fleet, having them turn and retreat would be a victory in itself.

His lips curled into a snarl, his throat sac growing a dull red with anger. "Damn that arrogant, high born fool! What in the name of Klorta was Ki'nav thinking waging war against an unknown race!? We already have our hands full against the Seran's yet he ensured the whole of this…this Citadel Council to join the war against us! It's only a matter of time before they flood our borders or take Vio'shelek through that array! He basically handed the Coalition fresh allies while we have none!"

Bo'klar composed himself. The last thing he needed was some over eager officer reporting that he appeared faithless to the church. "If I am honest, we do have allies in a strange way. These…Batarians. But they are weak, foolish, and lazy. They have no spirit or belief…only enslavement or wealth" He snorted a soft chuckle of growing mirth, his mind thinking of the Supreme Priest holding a diplomatic mission with the four eyed aliens to defeat the Seran worms. The image was laughable. Even if that came to pass, those brutes would lose well before then.

A crewman at communications stirred, his splotchy brown scales exposed beneath the minor sash of his minimal rank. "Fleetmaster. Our destroyer pickets are reporting the Coalition fleet has entered slipspace, abandoning the neighboring system"

"Then let us prepare. Tapping the holo-display and zooming in on the gas-giant system, he highlighted the planet itself. "The corvettes along with the 1st squadron will hide in the storming atmosphere. The 2nd and 3rd under Sub-fleetmaster Hi'val will maintain position, drawing in the Seran vessels. The 4th under Ge'lah will take station behind this methane moon, waiting to spring the trap"

The morale priest, Ji'laal grunted with disproval, his novice eye only seeing a believed outcome. "Fleetmaster. Shouldn't we meet them in open battle? The church desires the destruction of this vermin scum that soiled Bo'link with their mere presence"

Ki'nav studied the lightly scaled emerald Klor'vian across from him, his own features impassive. "No, Priest Ji'laal. That is what they want. To meet them in open battle where all the advantaged lie with them. Creating an ambush is our path to drive them from this sector. After all, the 2nd Fleet will need at least six to eight months to recover. We must not rush into battle and risk losses that ensure the continued advance of the enemy"

Ji'laal maintained his silence for a moment then unleased a small snort from his breathing slits. "I expect a full counter-attack if I deem the situation favorable, Fleetmaster. The church will not forgive cowardice"

"Of course" Ki'nav agreed. Sending out the command's moments later, his fleet began to disassemble, moving toward their assigned positions to lay and wait for their chance at victory.

And they waited…and waited.

Two days passed and none of his pickets picked up a sign of the Coalition. Not in the current system or within a hundred light years.

"Where are the enemy vermin, Fleetmaster? We've been sitting in these unending storms for too long!" Ji'laal inquired with a closely guarded threat…overlain with heavy annoyance.

Ki'nav tapped a finger on the rail guard, looking down at the surrounding sector.

There was nothing. No emergency calls from the orbital mining colonies, the scattered shipyards or from any of the sacred worlds. Scratching his scaled chin, the Fleetmaster could only come up with one conclusion. "They left. Possibly to resupply or reinforce the Seran navy at Bo'link. Wherever they went, they aren't here"

"What cowards. They feared our firepower and fled to hide in their polluted territory" The priest gloated, his throat sac turning a warm orangish-yellow in mirth.

"No…they're planning something. That, or those disgusting Batarians managed a breakthrough. But I won't assume that" Standing straighter, Ki'nav adjusted his command sash. "We drove them from our territory with no losses. I am sure the Supreme Priest will be pleased with our victory"

"Indeed. I'll inform the church that the Coalition now fears the mere sight of our ships. It won't be long until we retake all our territory, showing them they had no chance for survival"

The Fleetmaster had already tuned out the priest, heading to his private quarters. With the possibility of combat gone, he could take the chance to rest despite his sour mood. "That loud mouthed fool. Only a complete idiot would believe that drivel"

Walking into his quarters as humidity stifled the air, he sat on his bed, the material a soft spongy green while exhaling in exhaustion. The church and lower officers…the people would see this as a bloodless victory, but Ki'nav knew better. Failing to meet the enemy only gave them more time to prepare and grow stronger with new allies.

Reach, 1st of Frost 422 A.E.

The Destiny Ascension surged through the Reach Relay, escorted by three Turian Heavy Cruisers and six destroyers as part of the agreement of allowed forces into the system. Bathed in soft light of the distant star of the expansive bridge, Tevos and the other Councilors stood to the side while Admiral Atheya Sol'lae sat with a sense of serenity.

Near the councilors stood the Terran ambassador and Prime Minister, the weight of this monumental event not lost on them.

Council Procus gave a Turian scowl, his stance defensive. "We ride the most advanced Dreadnaught in Citadel space and yet we had to be towed nearly ten light years like a common freighter through the corridor of slipspace by the Seran's. It's insulting"

Junisa gave a light chuckle, his narrow head and bulbous eyes filled with wonder. "Not true. Invaluable chance to study the rigors and extra-dimensional space during our minor towing. Could lead to possible breakthrough and new areas of scientific study in years to come. A wonderful opportunity in exchange for minor humiliation"

"And don't forget, Procus. The Seran's only offered to assist our ships traverse the normal gap between our territories. We didn't have to agree but if we hadn't we wouldn't reach this system for another two months. Personally, I'm relieved that the Coalition was willing to host us with only a few minor conditions"

"Sure. As long as they can outnumber our naval contingent two hundred to one" he Turian commented, his gaze studying the local disposition of Cog assets on the holo table nearby.

There had to be at least half a battle squadron out there, just waiting to pounce and crush them all.

Communication's pinged, the crewman quickly patching it through to the Admiral. A nearby viewscreen took on the visage of a weathered male, his face hawkish with piercing, green eyes along with ruddy, brownish-red hair. "I am Lieutenant Commander Miles Alexiff. My ships will escort your vessels along the pre-approved flight path through the system toward Reach. Please be advised that the Capital of Straussburg is experiencing heavy blizzard conditions with razor hail. A cautious approach would be prudent"

"Thank you, Commander. We are in your care" Tevos uttered with confidence, the distant officer acknowledging with a slow blink.

"Welcome to Reach"

Ending the transmission, the two pilots at the helm rapidly input the new flight plan as the ten Council ships began to move, their engines flaring brighter on sublight. Around them, over one hundred and fifty war vessels collected into a sphere, guiding them along the predetermined path.

"At least he didn't threaten to conquer Earth and the Alliance" Svetlana muttered as the crews settled into the two hour long journey toward Reach.

They reached orbit, taking a defensive posture as several HOD platforms hung above the world shrouded in the grip of winter. Three moons swung around the garden world, enacting horrible tidal flooding along the broken and charred coastlines of the Tavin continent. Lentra City along with the bombed out husks of dozens of urban centers sat quiet, the desolate sprawl shrouded in ash from a continent spanning firestorm that lasted for five weeks.

It was like a knife had carved out all life on the continent, leaving nothing but char and death behind.

"The Batarian's deserve a harsh fate for this unwarranted atrocity" Svetlana whispered in horrified awe. The recorded images just didn't do the destruction justice as seeing it from orbit with her own eyes.

"By all reports, the Seran's have already instilled comparable losses to the slaving pirates" Procus added, his disdain for the species well known. As far as he was concerned, the Coalition had every right to return the horror five or ten-fold.

"Councilors. While I realize the view carries a horrid fascination, you didn't come here to sight see monuments of the dead. You came here to establish a military alliance with the Coalition" Admiral Sol'lae reminded.

Tevos lightly smiled with a small bow. "Of course, Admiral. You are quite correct in that regard" Turning the leave the bridge, the official representative's and their light escort of Asari Commandos soon found themselves on board a landing shuttle, traversing the battering blizzard toward the planetary capital on the smaller subcontinent of Sollen.

Equatorially, Straussburg would be at the same latitude as Paris or perhaps Berlin of Earth.

The shuttle buffeted, the harsh winds making the pilot pinch her face in worry. A heavy ionization caused several bolts of lightning to traverse the snow storm outside, making her tense. But Hallie was a skilled pilot with hundreds of years under her belt.

They passed through the bracing winds to land at the designated coordinates of Goven Tower in the sprawling center of the city numbering six and a half million. While ice and snow covered the cityscape, it was easy to see notable landmarks, including the Strauland Thrashball Stadium that flanked a winding river.

Procus eyed the stadium, his interest in the sport minimal…but growing. A test of agility, speed, strength and accuracy with heavy elements of defense and offense, Thrashball was very similar to the old American sport of the twentieth century. However, unlike on Earth, Thrashball persevered to become a cultural legacy loved by nearly all Serans.

"Perhaps my people would enjoy this physical activity in the future. It is quite fascinating. Possibly a Turian league after the war could be established"

The shuttle touched down, dispelling the errant thoughts of games and sport. He had a job to do and now was not the time to think about throwing a ball. The side door slid open with a hiss, allowing a gust of snow and wind to rush in like a biting wall of needles.

Asari commandoes surged out first, their rifles lowered, but ready just in case. Shouting the all clear in the next thirty seconds, the diplomatic party followed.

A few helmeted Gears waved them onward toward the thirty-story tower of glass and steel, their full armor protecting them from the elements. Holding open the government structures heavy doors, the delegation rushed in out of the sheering cold of winter.

"I apologize for the storm, but the winters of Reach can be quite brutal every few years"

There stood Chairman Izabel Diaz, flanked by eight men and women in combat armor of sheer black. Each held a lancer rifle across their chest, staring straight ahead without the slightest movement. Behind her was a heavily tanned man in a grayish uniform lined with gold trim. His face was rectangular like a granite stone. Blue eyes pierced out, his silence unnerving as he stood there silently.

The Chairman herself was wearing a light, azure blue knee length dress. While simple, the material gave a light shimmer. She wore no jewelry, letting her long, brown hair to fall downward to her back.

All in all, she looked like a healthy, thirty year old woman that led a floor of workers in a company. But the councilors knew better. This woman was a war leader that had made terrible sacrifices by abandoning whole systems and pushing back hostile enemies with horrendous casualties in military and civilian losses.

To underestimate Chairman Diaz would be extremely foolish.

However, Prime Minister Molotov would not miss this chance to speak first as she stepped forward, her smile pulling a few errant wrinkles at the corners of her mouth. "It is quite alright, Chairman Diaz. Russia is known for her winters as well. That is why no enemy ever succeeded in conquering her in the past"

"I suspect Northern Tyrus would be comparable to that level of winter" Diaz pointed out politely as she scanned the delegates. There were eleven in total which included military officers to properly advise their civilian counterparts…but their names weren't important now.

"Since we are all familiar with each other's names and current position, May I suggest we begin these talks. The Coaliton will of course, provide amenities during these meetings" Stepping aside, she extended an open hand. "General Brussard will be joining us in these talks. Extend him the same respect as your own officers" Turning, Diaz strode toward a large, central elevator made of glass and surrounded by central support pillars.

"She's being oddly pleasant" Ambassador Ichika Kojima whispered lightly, the words only heard by the Prime Minister.

"You're not wrong. I fully expected a tirade about how Earth was just waiting to be conquered or how we don't have any military experience to speak of" Finding themselves lagging behind, the Terrans hastened their steps to the central elevator, piling in before four Gears and Four Asari Commando's took up the rear, each of them keeping a careful eye of their charges.

The trip to the upper floor was fast, the lift efficient in speed.

Stepping off onto a tiled floor light marble with walls of darkened wooden paneling, Councilor Procus looked back at the lift then toward the Seran's. "I'll admit this, Chairman. I am jealous of your elevator's rising speed"

"Oh?"

"The keepers of the Citadel keep resetting the damn thing. Very slow. I hate to think what that would entail during an emergency"

"Hopefully nothing will transpire along those lines of thought" Diaz replied plainly before stepping through two large, wooden doors. General Brussard stepped aside, watching as the Onyx Guards took station in the hallway.

"Your Commandoes will wait outside. If they require food or beverages, I will notify an attendant" The General said simply, his voice like broken gravel.

Tevos could only nod. After all, it was agreed that no guards or troops would be allowed in the actual negotiations. Honestly, she had been surprised the Seran's allowed foreign troops onto their soil. But then again, the colonization fleet was still in the system under repair. It was hardly worth it to argue about a few extra ships or commandoes.

"The Turian's must be stewing about all this. They don't like others calling the shots. But this was the best both of our governments could come up with" Studying the large meeting room, she felt a shiver from the raging storm outside the windows of the top floor. Luckily, it was a comfortable temperature inside as she sat at the large, rectangular table of utilitarian metal. In the center was a holographic display module…and an actual A.I.

"Hi! I'm Daisy! I'm the planetary defense A.I!" The tiny, code lined girl waved, a smile on her face as her sundress flowed with yellow numbers.

"So, it is true. You've broken another Citadel Law" Procus said with a derisive scoff, the other Turian's scowling as they sat down. Their body language became extremely guarded, none of the accompanying officers willing to return the kindness.

"How rude, hmph!" Turning toward the Councilor, she waved a finger. "Just because those Geth are your enemies doesn't mean I am" She turned on the tiny platform…then blinked onto a recessed data pad where Tevos sat, causing the Asari to rear back in surprise. "Wow! I like your dress! It's sooo cute! Really compliments your natural color" Daisy grinned.

"Um…thank you?" Tevos replied warily, then looked down at her light purple garments for a moment.

"Fascinating. The emotional algorithms must be extremely complex. All known data about A.I. is based on Geth observations and they only increase their computation capacity based on numbers. Are you an individual A.I construct? Or perhaps part of a collective as well?" One of the Salarian's inquired with rapidity, who may or may not be part of the STG.

"I'm an individual and citizen of the Cog! I also like fluffy ani—"

"Daisy. Please don't get sidetracked. I know this is exciting for you but this is important. Don't forget your job today" General Brussard lightly reminded the tiny girl who crossed her arms in light defiance as she huffed.

"Oh fine. I'll be on standby until you need me" Flickering into nothingness, she presumably went to fulfill other tasks.

"Are all your A.I. that…outgoing?" Prime Minister Svetlana asked with a raised brow, not sure how she felt about dealing with a computer system that could pick apart anything the Council had.

"Their personalities are developed based on their own interests and classification. Military A.I.'s tend to be more serious in general than Daisy" Finishing the small explanation, the General sat to the right of Izabel Diaz at the table's end closest to the snow frosted windows.

The female in question intertwined her hands, leaning back slightly as the collected species began to settle down. "So. You're the ones that wanted this face to face, claiming to have knowledge of Caliphate space. I'm sure you already worked on a list of demands for this information"

"Obviously. For this alliance against our mutual enemies to work, we need full maps of Coalition Space and a proper assessment of your industrial capabilities, naval strength, and ground forces. This of course, doesn't include your breaking of Asari borders despite your earlier threats at Nueva Thessa following first contact" Councilor Procus stated, the Turian leaning forward with an arm braced across the table.

"And here I was hoping that we could establish several accords pertaining to our borders and the post war galaxy" Izabel lightly muttered. Leaning forward, she locked a gaze with the Turian. "Obviously, the answer is 'no' regarding the location of Seran colonies or our industrial capacity"

"How is that fair? You used A.I. to steal data from our ships! The least you can do is make it balanced and give your world locations to us!" Tevos argued loudly.

The Chairman slammed a hand down on the table, a sharp crack of flesh against metal. "No! I will not risk the survival of my people just because you say its unfair! Or have you forgotten that it was the failure of the Asari and Salarians that lead to the losses of thirty million on this very world!"

"And you answered that genocide with genocide against the Batarian's. Reports from Boto-shik compile a colonial massacre of at least twenty million" Junisa clipped out, his bulbous eyes blinking rapidly.

"Like I care about some damned space pirates and slavers" Diaz clipped with rising anger. Pushing back her chair, she rose and approached one of the windows. Taking a deep breath, she had to reign in her emotions as she watched the swirling blizzard outside. "None of you know how close the Caliphate came to taking Prescott or Oceania. We barely stopped them last year and if we had failed, they would've breached the core worlds…maybe even burned Tri-Ostri" She turned, her eyes sharp. "Yet here you demand I share the location of our colonies while you can't even keep yours safe from the same enemy" Pointing toward Tevos, Diaz expected a swift answer. "Tell me Councilor. You salvaged Caliphate vessels at Asiyana, correct?"

"We did. But I'm sure you already knew that"

"What did you find in their computers?"

Tevos went silent, then plunged in. "Maps…maps of every known world in Citadel space…including the System Alliance"

"So. An enemy that has similar means of FTL travel knows the location of all your homeworld's. Thessia, Sur'kesh…Earth" She stared down at Prime Minister Moltov before continuing, recognizing the hint of fear. "An enemy intent on carrying out a holy war of genocide against all sentient life for the sake of their god. Yet you want me to trust the Council with a map of our territory?" Diaz uttered a derisive scoff with a wave. "If they had known where Sera was, those Toad bastards would've loaded every ship they had and burned across space to cleanse my homeworld of every Seran" She retook her seat, eyeing each representative. "I am not opposed to sharing information about Coalition Naval assets or Infantry capabilities. However, I will not share the locations of our colonies at this time. Perhaps after the war, the possibility of revealing our border colonies along Asari territory can be revisited"

Tevos studied the Chairman, tapping a single finger against the table. "Speaking of Republic territory. You are aware that your ships did violate Asari space. A full battle fleet mind you"

"You 're welcome by the way. I understand that half a billion Asari are still alive thanks to Coalition efforts" Diaz answered with a hint of smugness.

"Begs the question of why you interfered? Would have saved assets and allowed primary galactic power to become weakened" Junisa inquired, his mind racing before his eyes slightly widened in realization. "Possible Seran world nearby? That region of space is now a war front for both Asari and Seran's. Easy for Caliphate to destroy outer Republic colonies then resume war of extermination against the Coalition"

"I can't confirm that" Izabel stated simply.

Jurisa's lips curled upward in a Salarian smile, the tiny bit of information locked away.

"May I suggest that we all study the overall galactic picture of this war? After all, we are trying to achieve a workable alliance" the Terran ambassador suggested.

"Very well. Daisy? Bring up a current map of the Eastern galaxy"

The tiny A.I. burst into existence once more, spreading her palms outward as a representation of the known Galaxy appeared in a burst of holographic light. Hovering above the central table, the territories of each species and political body became highlighted. Zooming in with a rush of light, the map was concentrated on the known borders of the Asari, Coalition and Caliphate.

General Miles Brussard stood at that time, brining the attention of all as he cleared his throat. "Since the battle of Asiyana, Coalition forces have taken the war to the enemy, capturing one of their colony worlds that we have designated 'Toad One" Highlighting the location and planetary data, all could see the spinning orbs of planets, moons and other viable data. "The conquest of this world took over two months, claiming twenty to twenty five percent of our invasion forces. However, enemy losses are estimated to be between one million to a million and a half combatants. It was through the Orbital Drop Assault Gears and a constant orbital barrage that we managed to bypass initial defenses and render their first line of mountain fortresses futile"

A Turian infantry Colonel raised his hand, his darker plates of blue blending well with his silver eyes. "Are you telling us that the Cog drops infantry from high orbit? You'd have to be insane"

Miles turned his head slightly, studying the Turian. "Daisy. Bring up the Kaliso classes during the battle"

The A.I. quickly replaced the galaxy with a floating image of the ship, standing beneath the tiny representation as the hologram played out the initial orbital deployment over the hostile planet. With thousands of tiny pods floating above the table, General Brussard continued his presentation.

"The Tai Kaliso Assault Transport is capable of carrying a full division into high orbit. Heavy shields, defensive batteries and a 12kg MAC gun ensure it can provide pre-emptive bombardment. The infantry, which really need minimal training to qualify, load into two-man 'drop pods' Once the targeting zone is confirmed, they drop en-mass. The pods themselves do have minimal evasive programming, but their main benefit is bypassing ground defenses to strike from the rear or above. In the case of the invasion, they literally dropped on top of several hollowed out hills and mountains that were initial Toad strong points. Quickly moving inside the fortifications, the enemy simply became overwhelmed as regular transports began landing"

The Turian Colonel could see the benefit…even if it was insane. Dropping full divisions like that had to be madness. "What level of casualties did they suffer?"

"It took the Toads by surprise at that time, so initial losses were relatively light. But in the future, they will know about it. Unfortunately, just because the Klor'vian Caliphate is a society of religious extremists, doesn't mean they're stupid. Since last year, they have completely revamped and upgraded infantry weapons and gear, stealing many designs from us. Reports from the invasion forces have the Toads wielding lancer rifles, plasma grenades, heavy combat armor and other tools of war. A vast upgrade from the simple bolt action rifles and minimal infantry gear they used last year" Halting his speech, the seran General glanced about the room with a harsh stare. "If this military alliance is to work, all of you need to understand that this is a war of extermination. There are no negotiations with them. To any Klor'vian, you all might as well be disease ridden sewer rats. They don't care about your people, your accomplishments or culture. They don't take prisoners. They don't surrender. If given half a chance, they would pummel Thessia into ash, invade, and kill every Asari on that planet…all in the name of safeguarding nature and life. When you fight them, and at some point you will. There will be no room for mercy. Only extermination"

Tevos stirred, her face downcast and passive. "We are prepared for that. Their actions are quite clear. The Citadel Council is fully prepared to ensure the safety of galactic civilization from this holy crusade of genocide"

Chairman Diaz lifted a small smile, leaning forward. "I'm pleased to hear that you're willing to finally do what is necessary. Now, General Brussard still has many topics to cover so let's continue"

With that, the negotiations continued…

Reach 3rd of Frost. (Day three of Negotiations)

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!?" Tevos yelled, her stance trembling with rage as she seethed at the Chairman. To see the normally composed and diplomatic Asari yelling was a strange treat to the Turians. After all, they already managed to develop an overall strategy with the Coalition in the last two days. But this? This just made Councilor Procus smile as he and the other Turian's watched in amusement.

"Damn right I'm serious! The Asari and Salarians owe the people of Reach reparations for their failure!" Izabel shouted back, both women standing straight and glaring each other down.

"Blame the Batarians then! They're the ones who attacked us as well!" Tevos shot back before extending a finger in accusation. "If my government pays for this, then it's only fair that the Coalition pays for the losses we suffered at Valae by the Caliphate! Ten years worth of finished products and Slipspace technology is more than fair!"

"Your insane thinking I'd give up our most valuable technology over a mining planet!"

"In agreement with Tevos. Asking for full reparations while the Asari in fact, lost millions is insulting to the Citadel. Exchange of Technology to mitigate blame of Valae losses in the only reasonable outcome!" Junisa finished with a low shout, even he finding the constant yelling tiresome.

"Like hell you can blame us when I personally warned you of what those Toad bastards would do! Yet you Asari with your damned superior arrogance went and threw a fleet into the meatgrinder!"

"That's enough!" Svetlana yelled, slamming a palm against the table before rising up. "You two haven't accomplished nothing in the last hour! All you've been doing is pointing and yelling like idiots! Now sit down and listen to my proposal about this damned issue!"

Diaz breathed deeply, taking a long drink of water to calm her anger. Sitting down, she cast a harsh glare at the Terran. "What do you propose to answer the losses this very world has suffered since Tevos won't listen"

"Why y—" Tevos started to rise once more, her hands braced on the table.

"Sit down councilor and listen to the Prime Ministers proposal!" Procus commanded with a shout, his own patience wearing thin.

The Asari gave a huff, leaning back with a scowl. "Why are they so damned difficult!?"

"Okay. Obviously there is some blame to go around, that much is apparent. But Izabel, asking for full reparations is too much. And Councilor Tevos, you have to know that the Coalition won't give up such valuable technology willingly. You'd have to declare war on them to get it and I'm sure none of us want to engage the Coalition over such matters" Pushing on, the Prime Minister was quite calm. "The Salarians and Asari agree to pay twenty percent of the total restitutions over ten years while the Batarians will cover the majority after they capitulate. Meanwhile, the Coalition will establish trade routes with the Council through the Reach-Pandora-Nueva corridor. It's my understanding that some of your alcohols have become very popular with the colonial fleet"

"That's true. The Asari in system find our Vectes Cherry Rum delicious" Izabel admitted, her temper easing.

"Why not start trading it then? I'm sure your people have many other items and services that would be welcome among not only the Asari, but the galactic community as a whole, including your terraforming techniques. Reach would start recovering and your civilian industries would find new avenues of commerce" Svetlana smiled, her blonde hair shimming against the inpouring of daylight through the multiple windows.

"That…would be acceptable. But only after a permanent trade outpost is established at Pandora. Construction and a civilian population is still at least a year away" Diaz offered, her gaze casting toward the Asari and Salarians.

"it's… something to consider. We can discuss it in detail later" Tevos dragged out, her eyes narrowed at the Seran female.

"Excellent. Now, let's break for the day and begin discussions of post-war borders and territory tomorrow" Junisa reasoned, the Salarian finding himself starving after hours of constant notes, arguing and shouting.

Reach. 5th of Frost (Day Five of Negotiations)

"You can't be serious" Izabel said with derision, her eyes locked with Ambassador Kojima as the two locked horns on this final issue.

"I fail to see the problem"

"You want me to open up the Coalition to immigrants from Earth! Millions of them with their foolish ideals, their rampant complaining about every damn issue they find offense with! By the Allfathers! The speed at which they breed would completely overwhelm the COG in a few generations! I might as well just rename everything New Terra!" Glaring down the table as she stood, Diaz would not budge on this issue.

"I fail to see your problem? Aren't you just two separate branches of humanity? Interbreeding with each other has to occur at some point" Councilor Procus pointed out, not in the mood for another shouting match.

"They wouldn't be loyal to the Cog! Most of them have no value of hard work or sacrifice! The Octus Canon would be completely alien to them! Instead, they sit around in the overpopulated cities of Earth, millions of fools squabbling like sheep! I'd rather open settlement to the Turians! That species understands sacrifice, hard work and service!" Chairman Diaz roared out, her patience wearing thin once more.

"Give them a chance! There are countless millions of humans in poverty willing to put in the hard work of colonization and settlement! You dismiss us, why? Simply because our history was different? Or that we managed to find Prothean technology on Mars! Or because we didn't suffer an extinction level conflict against the Locust!?" The Japanese woman barked out. Leaning across the far end of the table, she braced her hands against the surface with a cold stare.

After all, the normal necessities and rules of diplomatic dialogue had been thrown out by day two. Half the time, shouting your opinion was the only way to gain traction against the Seran's. Something they had all come to realize during the past week.

While normal diplomatic gatherings by the Asari could be compared to ballet or a peaceful dialogue of ideas, Seran diplomacy was almost Krogan like in temperament, arguing, and veiled threats.

"You were handed everything! While we had to scrape and suffer through toils of fire, ash and ruin! Even your first contact war is a joke! Now you assume just because we lost over one hundred thirty million in this war that we'll be desperate for your Terran masses"

"We know that those losses make up over ten percent of your total species! Or do you plan on fighting until you have only thirty million left!" Ichika pointed out with a furious snarl.

Chairman Diaz blinked, the surprise of that recent statement giving her pause. "Where did you come up with that number?"

"Based on human breeding patterns and growth, Citadel and Alliance personnel have come to the conclusion that the Seran Coalition has a population of eight hundred to one billion. Perhaps six to ten colony worlds" Jurisa explained quickly, his eyes blinking rapidly.

"That's right. That's why we want to find a viable solution. Earth is heavily overpopulated…your worlds are not" Kojima finished, her tone calming down.

Diaz sat in her chair with a soft 'plumpfh' of cushions, rubbing her stressed temples. "By the Cog…your scientists really missed the mark on that one"

"What?"

"There will be no immigration at this time. That is my stance on it along with my government"

Prime Minister snapped up a hand, silencing the ambassador from further outbursts. "Fine. It's clear this is an issue for the future. Let's all look over the treaty and ensure that it's agreeable. After that, a final draft can be written up for all of us"

"Agreed. I doubt there is anything else to go over anyway" Izabel waved, exhaustion creasing her features as the other people in the room breathed a sigh of relief at the final end of these damned negotiations.

In the coming weeks, this treaty between the Citadel Council and the Coalition of Ordered Governments would become known as the 'Reach Accords'

Khar'Shan. The Batarian Homeworld 8th of Frost, 422 A.E.

Grand Shan Ghorek was furious. Almost disgusted with the failure's of his military forces. They were fighting human's! A weak, stupid race that could barely think outside of their two, simple eyes. And the Asari and Turian's?

Racists. The whole lot of them. Always complaining about their slave culture and how it's against their 'laws'

Blinking all four of his dark eyes, the Grand Shan looked out the window of his elevated office, studying the line of slaves being led to some work detail. Most were Asari…some were human with a smattering of Batarian's mixed in. Batarian's of such low class that being a slave was their only choice in life. Raising his eyes from the desolate filth, he studied the beautiful capital of the Hegemony, a sprawling urban center of brown towers, roadways, and factories outpouring goods manufactured by even more slaves or third caste peasants.

Turning, he centered his gaze on the few officers present, Batarians of the highest social status and wealthy houses. After all, he had appointed their current commands himself.

"So. How does the navy propose to win this war against the rotten races that seek to destroy our peace-loving culture?" He rasped, taking a seat as his sprawling desk of Shavan Wood. Polished to a heavy sheen, it was almost reflective as one of the officers spoke up.

"We immediately gather the 4th and 2nd fleets to reinforce the Adek System! Not only is it the choke point linking the Eastern Hegemony with the Core worlds, but it is a military and slave bastion ripe with industry! The infantry forces alone number nearly ten million and we can increase that number with third caste armies and mercenaries! These imposter Serans with their Turian overlords will have no choice but to sign a treaty with us when they see the resolve of our people!"

"An excellent plan. My spies have informed me that those Seran…abolitionists can only bring half a fleet to bear against us, and not even at once. They're too busy liberating our Asari property at Boto-shik to be any sort of threat to one of our most populated worlds" Nodding in assent, he flicked his wrist in approval at the military action. Watching the naval officer leave, he turned to the two remaining across from his position. "Now…how will you destroy the Alliance 3rd fleet and enslave their soldiers that dare to inhabit our rightfully claimed Sha'vale system? Or ensure that those pathetic Turians lose even more ships at Venrak'sha?"

"We're regrouping our fleets and hiring privateers to increase their combat effectiveness. We'll be ready to retake those systems within three months at most. Obviously, our numerical advantages will overwhelm the Alliance forces, bolstering our slave trade"

"Good. Good. See to it" Waving the two away, Ghorek swiveled his chair, raising a greenish liquid to his lips. The alcohol rushed down his throat, calming his mind as he watched the beauty of his empire prosper.

"Victory is almost guaranteed after that treacherous disaster at Reach. Soon, we will have thousands of fresh slaves and technology to rival the Citadel" Grinning maliciously, the Grand Shan enjoyed the moment of silence as the gears of war continued to churn.

2161 C.E.

Codex Update: The Reach Accords

Article One: All warfare limitations are lifted during the current conflict. Coalition Military assets will maintain continuous operations against Caliphate Forces to the North. Citadel forces will open a new front in no less than six months, pursuing a policy of total destruction of hostile forces.

Sub-section B: Orbital Drop Technology will be shared with all allied forces. In exchange, Hierarchy Military forces will shoulder the main offenses against Batarian Assets. Alliance Theater of war will be left to Terran command. Heavy Coalition Infantry assets will be provided to work in conjunction with Turian 'Legions' along with 'Raiding Squadrons'

Article Two: The Coalition of Ordered Governments will retain full sovereignty and independence from Citadel laws, edicts, Culture, Economic and military oversight.

Article Three: The Citadel will not interfere in the lawful and democratic joining of any future Coalition States. This will include any religious, cultural, or economic groups of any species (current or undiscovered) so long as the Citadel Council is treated with equal opportunities of contact, trade, and diplomatic efforts.

Article Four: 20% of Reach reparations will be paid by Asari and Salarian governments over the course of ten years. The remaining 80% will be paid by Batarian Hegemony upon surrender.

Sub-section B: The Coalition will open limited trade with all species of the Citadel through the Reach-Pandora-Nueva Thessa corridor.

Article Five: Conquered enemy territory will remain in the ownership of the victorious party. The Coalition will retain ownership of Pandora, the Mass Relay Corridor to Reach, and all the territory within.

Sub-Section B: The Coalition will reveal the locations of Border colonies post-war. (Any attempt to discover current location will nullify the current treaty)

Article Six: The Coalition will not be limited by the Treaty of Farixen nor the bans on Artificial Intelligence and limited Genetic Manipulation. (Current Seran lifespan has already been modified) Slipspace Technology will not be traded. However, the Coalition will not interfere in the development of similar technologies by the Citadel Government.

Article Seven: Current Coalition borders will be closed to immigration. (This may be re-visited post war)

Article Eight: Any Prothean or archeological ruins discovered by either party must be shared with the galactic community with equal access to all.

Article Nine: The Coalition of Ordered Governments will establish an Embassy on the Citadel within one year.

Phew! I'm surprised I finished this chapter so quickly! I really hope everybody enjoys it! And seriously, I tried my best with the ground invasion and infantry combat, same with the negotiations at the end, but I'm not an expert by any means. So if you don't like…too bad. I'm sure there's plenty of other things you can read.

OH! And if you say that the Batarian's aren't the arrogant and corrupt, they actually are according to canon. Their empire is basically a rotting husk so actually, I probably made them too competent.

Anyway, this is probably my last update of the year. I'll be working on DotCOG next and maybe just try to finish that story completely since there's only a few chapters left. So to everybody, I hope you enjoy my stories and have some great times with friends and family over Christmas and New Years!

This is thehappy signing off!