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.

9. Chapter Eight: The Battle of Adek

Well, Sorry for taking so long with an update. I was finishing my first story which ended up taking 5 YEARS to write! Over a million words and now Dragon of the Cog is finally complete. Check it out if your interested. Anyway, I'm here with another chapter for you to enjoy!

Chapter 8: The Battle of Adek

Palaven. Hierarch Unification Tower, 10th of Frost 422 A.E.

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Harsh sunlight bathed the capital city of the Turian Homeworld, the high radiation dangerous to most sentient beings, but well within the means of the native species to enjoy. Palaven was in the middle of summer, the metallic oceans off the coast a tinge of silver while air traffic darted across the skies.

Turian citizens, male and female were boisterous, many signing up for military service to find their calling in this new found war. Many hoped to gain great honors or respect, others were enraged by the slaughter of Asari by this genocidally hostile Caliphate. Some even found a strange comradeship with the Serans, their history and culture favorable by many of the avian species.

The victory against the Locust Horde centuries ago solidified many to give respect, acknowledging the brutality of that ancient conflict that pushed the Coalition to reach for the galaxy.

Primarch Bructis Darril had just finished overlooking 'The Reach Accords' his silver and emerald-plated face neutral under the slanting rays of sunlight pouring through the boardroom. Several high ranking Turian's were around the long, square table, representing research, industry, infantry, and naval departments. Like good Turian's, they waited as Darril gathered his thoughts.

"While I had hoped for more sharing of technology from the Seran's, the overall treaty is a decent compromise for all. We also seem to be in a higher favor among the Coalition than the Asari, Salarians, or Terrans. We must ensure that favorability continues to fall our way. Now how will we ensure that with the Seran's?"

"Primarch" A middle aged female officer called out, her rank of a Brigadier General.

Darril nodded his head, giving her permission to speak. "General Camlus"

"Thank you, Primarch. Like us, the Seran's value merit of actions, honorable service, and dedication to the overall greater good. I believe the best way to build a rapport and trust with them to the point of technology exchange or other benefits is to ensure that we meet the treaty obligations. Especially against the Caliphate world the Asari discovered. If we were to wait and let both forces visit heavy casualties on both sides, just for us to move in at the last minute would be extremely insulting not only to them, but the honor we have put forth in this treaty. To remind you all, they have already shared the design specifications of 'Kaliso class' ships with us, and the other members of the council. While essentially useless to the Salarians due to the fragility of their bodies, these vessels will be an excellent addition to Hierarchy military equipment"

"I happen to agree with the general about meeting these military obligations, the sooner the better. Now, what are the timetable's for the invasion of Toad Two and the Batarian bastion of Adek?"

Admiral Decmus Linsis stirred, the naval campaign officer in charge of planning the overall strategy of war across the galaxy. "Bringing enough forces against Toad Two will take three to four months, including sufficient reinforcements if the need arises. It's at the end of a newly opened chain of relays at the extreme fringes of Asari Republic space. We could have a single fleet ready to assault in two months, but considering how hard the Caliphate ships fight along with the weapons they bear, overwhelming firepower should be established. As for Adek, Admiral Tibernius can take the system within two months at the most. The ground invasion at Lav'ton has been costly in troops, supplies and material, but with the Batarian surrender of that colony, we can free up significant forces while reinforcing with another full Legion. It will be a significant battle considering the total population of Adek and how important this world is, but the Coalition has promised to support landings with several hundred thousand troops and the local raiding squadrons in conjunction with our own forces"

"I'm sure we can all imagine how the Seran's will conduct a ground invasion if what happened at Boto-shik is any indication" Darril stated, the dark joke earning a chuckle from the assembled males and females.

To say it was an atrocity was an understatement, but then, most people across the galaxy weren't inclined to show much concern for the Batarian's these days.

Not after the forced, Asari breeding camps were discovered at Boto-shik.

"Make sure Admiral Tibernius develops a viable invasion plan with the local COG forces. However, I don't want needless losses. If the best option is to bombard the planet, then so be it" Clasping his clawed hands, the absolute ruler of the Turian people steepled his digits. "Now, how is reverse engineering the Caliphate FTL drives progressing along with our own research into a viable Slipspace Drive?"

With that, the meeting at the highest level of government continued as the Turian's prepared their forces for total war.

Hegemony Space. 1.2 light years from Adek. 25th of Sorrow 422 A.E.

Orange clouds of helium, argon and sparkling shards of ice surrounded the five hundred and eighteen naval vessels of the Coalition. The Dreadnaught Jilane floating serenely among her freshly reinforced squadron, the warship eager for battle. Her sister squadron under the command of Lieutenant Commander Loomis floated nearby, surrounding the valuable troop transports and supply ships for this upcoming operation. Three refitted colony ships, rushed to the Batarian front after the victorious forces at Toad One had withdrawn for rest and refit, held three hundred thousand fresh troops, many of them from all over the Coalition, eager for battle against the hated aliens. Around them, ten Tai Kaliso Assault Transports floated, the men and women inside just waiting to rain down on the Batarian colony capital.

Commander Jayde Strand stood at the holo table, the secured channel linking with not only the visage of Loomis, but the Admiral of the Turian operation, TIbernius. The 10th and 12th hierarch fleets were posed to jump from the occupied world of Lav'ton, their rear secured along with three full strength Legions.

Admiral Tibernius blinked, his visage giving a small ripple. Older, he had fought with great honor and integrity at the Siege of Lav'ton, a pathway to greater responsibility after the war ends.

"We know Adek has been reinforced by the 4th and 2nd Hegemony fleets, an obvious bid to fight and reinforce the system. My forces are ready to enter the relay to begin the battle. However, I am concerned about the possibilities of further reinforcements from the enemy."

"There won't be. Our raiding over the last two months have crippled industry, production, and the economy for most of the Eastern Hegemony with the exception of Omega and a few minor colonies. For all intents and purposes, Adek has been cut off from anything to the Galactic East. When they try to retreat through the secondary junction relay, it will only be to salvage some sort of resistance to protect their core worlds and Khar'shan. After all, with them still guarding Venrak'sha along with the Alliance 3rd Fleet consolidating at Shav'ale, the Batarian's are already stretched thin. This battle could break their naval forces and cripple their morale"

"I'm well aware of the overall strategic picture, but you are correct Commander. This battle will present an excellent opportunity to force surrender on the Hegemony" Tibernius looked away, a verbal report faintly heard through the holographic communication. "My forces are at full readiness. The operation can begin in one standard hour. I trust you have adapted your timetables to coincide with my own?" TIbernius stated, the officer eager for conflict and greater honors.

"We have. History has proven time and again how easy a plan can fail just by reading the wrong time. One standard hour and we will join the attack" Loomis presented.

"Very well. May the spirits guide you in battle"

The final meeting ended, Jayde quickly brining up the system in question. Having rampaged across the Eastern Hegemony for the last few months, losses had been surprisingly light, but then, they hadn't been facing a heavily fortified junction world.

At least the Turians seemed competent at warfare…even if they tended to charge straight into battle. They were rigid in terms of military flexibility. But on the other hand, they wouldn't break in the face of conflict or danger. If her forces had to fight along another species, The Turians would be a good one.

"Odd how that worked out. Months ago, we practically threatened war at Nueva Thessa, now we're going to launch a joint operation to hammer another nail into this rotten empire of slavers and lazy fools"

Dismissing how strange events turned out, Commander Strand brushed away a few errant hairs of green that had been annoying her. Bringing up the target system in question, tiny worlds of light bloomed into existence above the table.

A yellow dwarf star hung in the center, surrounded by five planets and an outer asteroid belt. Four of the worlds were dead, but the Batarians had set up mining operations anyway, the workers of those hellish places no doubt slaves or serfs, the third class citizens of the Hegemony barely better than slaves or indentured servants.

Those would be dealt with later. It was the second world, a vibrant, lush planet of greens, humid temperatures and rife with life that gained her attention. Of course, they had studied the target for the last week, forming an outlying strategy for invasion.

Three main continents made up the majority of landmasses while blue oceans with heavier amounts of algae swam beneath the surface, feeding a diverse biome. The two smaller continents would be ignored, only the main one assaulted as the planetary capital and majority of military forces were housed. With a total population of nearly five hundred million, the colony would have significant defenses.

Jayde could feel her grip tighten around the railing of the table, her fingers turning tight. Several of those cities were directly supported by slave markets and camps, filled with thousands of Asari and others brutalized by this regime.

She was almost eager to burn these four eyed monsters to ash from orbit.

Shifting her gaze to the two relays in the system, one of the floating tuning forks hung at the 'northern' or 'top' of the system past the asteroid belt. The second pointed westward, locked in an extremely distant orbit with the third planet.

The Turian's would assault from the north. She knew it, Tibernius knew it, and so did the Batarian's.

"What's the estimated total of enemy ships?" Jayde asked Jess, her first officer quickly bringing up a fresh stream of data. Red triangles appeared near Adek, a simple representation.

"The Turian's launched a few relay probes to get a picture of the force size. Two full fleets, each about nine hundred ships. There are also a significant number of privateers and state sponsored pirates, probably mercenaries numbering another three hundred. So, we're looking at twenty one to twenty two hundred combatants"

"Very well, ensure all ships are ready for combat operations. We will follow the plan unless something goes wrong. If we fail, the escort ships will guard the transports to Reach"

It was a simple contingency if the worst happened, but based on Batarian naval tactics and abilities, Jayde sincerely doubted they would win this battle. Retaking her command chair, the emerald haired officer crossed her legs, the black uniform with gold trim pressed and cleaned for battle as the clock ticked down.

Adek System. Near the Lav'ton Relay, The Adek rock belt.

Admiral Akroy Pod'neb had done his best to study the recent battles of the war, especially the horrendous losses of Reach and Nueva Thessa. In an evenly matched fight, ship for ship, he was confident his 4th fleet could match the Turian's blow for blow. While he could question if Rear Admiral Khato Radgamon was up to the task considering he was…

"Given the command as a political and economic favor, he isn't a complete fool, just half of one. Still, I would prefer a full fledged officer in command of my flank"

That was one thing he hated about the Hegemony Navy, or its military in general. The favors and abilities to simply buy or bribe into elevated positions. Or simply giving a favored brother or cousin a command as a gift. It made for a disaster, just like their defeat at Reach.

But Akroy knew better. He was proud to serve…to rise up the ranks through hard work, intelligence and competence.

It made him a pariah of the first class families, nobles and merchants, but he didn't care. Getting the job done mattered first.

And one thing he had learned about the Seran's, especially after the horrific losses at Boto-shik, Reach and Nueva Thessa was this.

"They're extremely dangerous" the Admiral whispered with a rumble as his bridge crew made final preparations. "The slipspace drive, A.I's that could rip apart our electronic defenses, Hammer of Dawn weaponry capable of cleaving capital ships in half. Our people made a grievous error starting a war with them"

In the dark recesses of his mind, Akroy contemplated insurrection to ensure that the war was halted before enemy fleets hung above the homeworld.

Pod'neb momentarily felt a shudder from that dark thought. The Coalition considered the Hegemony a side effort, most of their military focused and beating the Klor'vian Caliphate, which the Admiral had to admit, was another nightmare his enemy faced.

He didn't even want to remember the gathered intelligence on the Locust Horde or the parasitic lambent. The fact that he actually took those lessons to heart put him in a class of his own, most of his fellow officers dismissing it as propaganda or ignoring those lessons entirely.

To wage war against a people that had survived such horror…Akroy considered it a great folly. By all intents and purposes, the COG would have left the Batarians alone if they returned the same effort, but that didn't happen.

Now the 4th and 2nd fleets were stationed at the outer fringes of the asteroid belt, waiting for the Turian's.

He didn't have to wait much longer.

The crewman at sensors stirred, his four eyes blinking as the distant Mass Relay began to pour out an energy spike. Ships began to enter the outer fringes of the system among staggering flashes of light, their hulls sleek with tints of silver and blue.

While invisible to the naked eye of any sentient being, hull mounted sensors and camera's picked up the task as more of the invading fleets flashed into the outer system.

Unlike Asari vessels with their elegant, streamlined hulls or cross shaped capital ships, the Turian's built their ships with an almost predatory avian appearance. Most likely stemming from their evolutionary path.

"Admiral! The Turian's have arrived!" the crewman shouted out as more and more vessels flashed into existence. The area around the relay was rapidly filling with enemy warships as they began to reform into a battleline, the capital ships taking the front.

"We've been expecting this! All ships prepare for battle!" Pod'neb said loudly, his voice hard and firm. A warbling klaxon echoed through the Dreadnaught, First Shan while the halls dimmed to a dull, brownish red. Rushing over to the tactical holo display, his face was a scowl while the enemy count continued to rise. Already, a full Turian fleet had traversed the relay, the count surpassing one thousand warships while still continuing to rise.

"The Tenth and Twelfth Hierarch fleets. High with morale from their recent victory at Lav'ton, they will be even harder to beat"

A communication officer stirred. "Sir. I'm receiving a request from Rear Admiral Radgamon to break from the asteroid belt and close with the enemy"

"Deny him! All vessels are to maintain position! The moment those Turians come into weapons range, open up with everything we have!" Pod'neb responded with a shout, his ire rising. "The Turian's would just love us to go charging into their guns like mind-addled varren!" Recasting his gaze to the tactical table, the icons of the Turian fleets had formed into a standard assaulting battle line, already beginning to move.

The minimal defenses around the relay, obsolete mass accelerator platforms were already peppering the Turian fleets, but they were old, unmaintained and neglected by the local government. Why bother with maintaining those defenses so far inside Hegemony Space?

"Sir. The relay defenses have managed to damage several Turian ships, but they are quickly being destroyed"

Akroy gave a weary sigh of disdain as another of the platforms blinked out of existence, pounded to scrap. He hadn't expected much, so in a way he wasn't disappointed.

The last ones blinked out of existence, brunt away like paper in a firestorm. The Turian's kept up a steady line of advance, their units ordered and primed. "How long until they enter weapons range of the fleet?"

"One minute"

Casting another gaze outside of the main window, a few tiny asteroids spun lazily past, barely a threat to his flagship. He hoped that some of the larger ones would help in the defense of this system, a hiding place for vessels to avoid fire, but a ship could easily be destroyed if hit by a rock three times its size.

It was too late to move anyway.

"Should I have met them in battle right away? No. Radgamon and some of our privateers would have fled at the first sign of a setback. The Turian's will keep pushing forward even despite horrible losses. Just like the Krogan or Seran's. Actually the Coalition has been silent the since Boto-Shik fell. I wonder what-"

Akroy shot up from his command chair like a thunderbolt, the horrid realization creased across his brown face and four eyes. "Lieutenant Brink! Where are the Seran's currently located! Estimated system!"

The officer at tactical was momentarily stunned, then rapidly recomposed himself before he feverishly worked the tactical table. Holographic images of the Eastern Hegemony flashed into existence, most of the systems a dull red, indicating their destruction or conquest.

"The most recent report was from Vash'an nearly three weeks ago asking for help against a Coalition battle squadron. The emergency signals from the processing yards were silenced within hours"

Akroy calculated the estimated speed and range of Seran vessels, the oncoming horror becoming more pronounced. "Patch into the deep space arrays and scan the system!" The Admiral barked, his tone a low panic.

"Sir! The Turian's have opened fire!"

"Then all ships return fire in kind!" the Batarian bellowed out as the first mass accelerated slugs crashed against the forward vessels of his command. The damage was minimal at this point, only a few dozen privateers and destroyers taking flaring damage to shields.

A massed salvo of shells belched from the Batarian 4th and 2nd fleets, burning streaks of brownish red light across the gulf of vacuum to the encroaching enemy. Some landed a few moments later, but the majority were intercepted or simply avoided.

The Batarian crewman at sensors stirred, his face almost going pale as the new data was gathered. "Admiral! Slipspace ruptures above the planetary elliptical and behind us! Number estimates around five hundred!"

Admiral Pod'neb felt stunned, his mind drawing a momentarily blank as his Dreadnaught vibrated from firing another shell. The lead Turian Dreadnaught had met his fire with fire, barely intercepted by defensive batteries.

"SIR! The Seran's are beginning an attack run on the 2nd fleet! What are your orders!" tactical yelled, shaking Akroy from the stunned funk.

It was one of the worst tactical situations he could have found himself in. Facing enemies from two sides while a quarter of his forces were mercenaries at best. Not only that, but recent history has proven how horrific Coalition fire can be.

The battle was lost before it barely began.

But even so, Pod'neb was an officer, tasked with protecting the vital world of Adek. To flee now would be an insult to his personal honor.

"Order the 2nd fleet to engage the Seran's! I will continue to meet the Turian's in battle! NOW CONTINUE TO FIRE!" Akroy yelled, his pride surging even as a nearby destroyer became embroiled in battering fire with scraps of hull breaking away.

Admiral Tibernius was calm and collected, sitting in his elevated command chair with clasped hands. A lifetime officer of the Hierarchy, his yellow eyes showed great intelligence and patience. His plates were a dullish blue-gray, marked with purple tattoos of his colonial home and family lineage.

The rapid fire of Turian ships was already apparent during this battle, multiple hits flaring among the Batarian forces. Ever three seconds a fresh volley of tungsten tipped steel raced across the void, the low light speed making them appear as blue streaks of light.

Several of his own vessels took some damage, but for the most part, it was minimal overall.

"Report"

A female officer acknowledged the order, standing near the tactical table. "Sir, the plan is working. With the Coalition squadrons appearing behind the Batarian fleets, they immediately split their forces. So far, enemy losses have amounted to a dozen vessels, another forty damaged"

The Dreadnaught, Sword of Manae fired yet another 30kg shell at 1.3 percent light speed, sending it to pulverize a Batarian light cruiser. While unseen by the Turians, that lone shell had ripped through the battered shields, ripping the side of the distant vessel open to space, flooding it with dying corpses. Subsequent bombardment would destroy that vessel in the next minute, not that it mattered.

"Our own losses?"

"Five vessels destroyed with sixty seven reporting minor damage"

Flashes of defensive laser batteries flared the void around them, a silent symphony of light. Explosions of intercepted munitions was a constant backdrop against the orderly and massed fire of the tenth fleet, along with the 8th as the crews maintained their order.

"Very well, continue to maintain position and bombard the enemy. Once they break, we will move in to destroy them. I will be honest however, I am eager to witness a battle between the Seran's and the Batarians" Tibernius mentioned with a small chuckle, easing some of the tension from the bridge crew as they continued to overwhelm the Hegemony fleet before them.

Massed volleys of slugs surged like streaks of fire across the gulf, impacting flaring shields as some began to fail. Bare hulls cracked and buckled, others ripped open from too much damage as the 4th Batarian fleet began to take increasing damage.

Several destroyers, frigates and the occasional light cruiser died, smashed to air belching scrap as their crews were sucked into harsh vacuum. Heavier vessels bore the brunt of fire better, weathering the massed fire while defensive lasers pulsed and stabbed the dark.

To his credit, Admiral Pod'neb fought well, enacting furious losses among the two Turian fleets. His massed fire was responsible for picking apart several dozen smaller combat vessels and one cruiser so severely damaged that its visible interiors were open to the void.

But eventually, the superior firepower and rate of mass accelerated slugs would beat his fleet down. Thus, he retreated further into the asteroid field, using the dancing rocks of an unformed planet as a shield to protect his fleet.

"What are our losses!" Pod'neb barked angrily, his flagship vibrating from a few impacts before retreating behind a large spinning piece of water ice, iron, and regolith nearly five miles long. Several other smaller ships joined him, his forces becoming scattered among the dancing belt of hazards.

"Sir! forty three destroyers and frigates have been destroyed! Two cruisers, Starting Wealth and Vi'shan are critically damaged and need emergency repairs! Turian losses are estimated to be forty ships!"

"Order all ships to reform their squadrons and to fight among the rocks! Make the Turians come in and dig us out! Pilot! Hug the surface of this asteroid and bring us around! Weapons! Target any capital ship you can find!"

"Sir!" His crew barked, their efforts surging with pride. First Shan surged forward, escorted by several destroyers and frigates as the craft spun around the odd shaped moon. Emerging from cover, all vessels immediately targeted a distant Turian cruiser on approach, unleashing a horrible battering of 32kg and 12 kg shells every five seconds. They streaked across the void in a staggered fire, several of them intercepted by defensive batteries of laser fire.

But, the weight was enough to shatter the mid-sized ships shields, buckling armor and hull as some sections became open to space. Turian's flew into the void, an honorable death for all.

Of course, the counter fire was immediate and severe, claiming two frigates. One of the Batarian craft became a shattered, drifting wreck, the other crashed into the nearby asteroid, all hands lost before Admiral Pod'neb managed to retreat further into the asteroid field.

All along the 4th fleet, these hit and run attacks commenced, causing losses and damage on both sides among dying ships, sprinkling ice, and frozen corpses.

Commander Strand had expected a response, but not the entirety of a full Batarian fleet attempting to exit the asteroid field when her squadron emerged from slipspace. Not only that, but this fleet seemed to be reinforced with privateers or former pirates…not that she saw much difference between the two.

But it didn't change the fact that about four hundred seventy Coalition ships were about to face off against thirteen hundred Batarians. Many of which were still in a vulnerable tactical situation since her ships were 'above' them.

"Almost like Reach all over again" Jayde worded softly as the dark red of battle stations bathed the bridge of her Dreadnaught, Jilane.

She hadn't needed to give the order, every officer and crew under her command knew their jobs and what the plan was. They simply needed to meet the enemy and break them.

A strike right through the middle of their forces would sow confusion, destruction and destroy morale. But lingering would be deadly.

"Send a reminder to all ships! One pass then we swing around through the field to strike them from the rear! Any ships that are in need of repairs are to regroup with the transports and repair ships!"

"I cannot afford to become arrogant. I will be out-numbered and fate could turn against me in an instant"

It was a reminder to all Coalition officers. Arrogance in battle is the fastest path to defeat.

They entered weapons range, the Seran's diving down from the high elliptical of the system to essentially smash the exposed upper hulls of the enemy. Of course, in space there is no true up or down, East or West. It's all relative of where you are and the direction you face.

Still, Commander Strand did enjoy a tactical advantage as her command's engines burned a bright blue toward the hated enemy.

"Destroyers are launching their torpedoes, ma'am"

"Then follow up with everything else! Make sure this first attack destroys them!"

The Batarian 2nd fleet simply did not have enough time to take a favorable position. Nearly a third of their numbers were still trying to reorganize and turn among the spinning rocks of the belt, a slower process due to the higher risk of collision.

Another unfortunate blunder implemented by the appointed Rear Admiral, Radgamon was to use privateers and financially bought mercenaries as his main screening force. He was a political appointee, more suited to financial markets, the slave trade and gaining wealth.

Not full-on war.

At least he insisted on conducting regular training for his crew's so they weren't completely lost.

That training wouldn't make a difference against Seran firepower.

Two hundred thirty Destroyers led the opening salvo, the small, angular craft burning hard and fast in a downward arc. Each unleashed twin fusion torpedoes at the Batarian's, a haphazard line of pirates and privaters regressing into a broken line of fire.

Ten seconds later while the first wave of speeding warheads were still approaching, the Destroyers launched a second salvo, numbering another four hundred as they raced toward the enemy. The Cruisers and BattleCruisers fired their own weight, thermic lances of light a harsh yellow while standard MAC rounds tore through the void.

Of course, Hammer of Dawn fire pierced the velvet night, burning beams of blood red that reached the first privateer just as the first wave of fusion torpedoes entered the defensive envelope.

Particle lances and defensive laser batteries almost screamed in protest as the ships jinked and evaded, the sheer mass of fire overwhelming the mercenary crews.

Most had fought or raided merchant ships or transports, one on one battles that were typically easy.

Not this incoming hell of wrath.

Even with the support of full on naval frigates, destroyers and light cruisers adding to the defensive fire, they were instantly overwhelmed.

The forward command Cruiser, The Slaver was literally cleaved in half by the Jilane, two beams of Hammer of Dawn fire burning through shields and hull alike, roasting the crew alive in a silent scream before the engines went critical.

One hundred thirteen of the first wave of warheads burned through the defensive net, impacting the lighter shields of the mercenary ships with horrid ease. Flaring greens and blues melted away among emerging suns of fusion fire, cracking the thinner hulls in a slaughter of roiling heat. Most of the targets were simply vaporized, the ships becoming nothing more than spinning flotsam among the occasional corpse.

The second wave of torpedoes, mixed with the full fire of the Coalition ships was even more effective even as the Batarian 2nd fleet tried to return a haphazard line of slugs.

Most were intercepted by the superior Seran battle computers, damaging a mere dozen destroyers and one Battlecruiser.

Two hundred ninety eight fusion torpedoes tore into the ragged gap of the fleet, causing a fresh wave of destruction and hell among the defenders. Nearly three hundred new suns burned into existence, many of them claiming full on naval vessels. The smaller destroyers and frigates simply melted away, unable to bear such horror as their crews died in silent screams of heat. Some of the larger warships managed to weather complete annihilation, but they were nothing more than floating wrecks spewing air and vapor. Even if they had the means to return fire, the Seran's ended them without mercy, killing the wounded vessels with following salvos of MAC rounds.

"We've lost nearly all the privateers along with ninety three destroyers and frigates, Sir! Four heavy cruisers are reporting severe damage along with most of the 1st squadron! The Seran's butchered them! The survivors are fleeing and aren't responding to commands!" A Batarian male yelled in stunned shock.

Khato Radgamon sneered, his temper flaring as the officer stood over the tactical table, his eyes scanning the unfolding devastation. The rest of his fleet had finally managed to reassert itself at the outer fringes of the belt, positioning in a traveling sphere toward those vile Serans. Angling upwards, he had expected something from the mercenaries, but not a full fledged slaughter.

The battle line had been ripped open, a horrid gap filled with twisted remnants of ships and broken hulls. But there was still an opportunity to enact suffering among the Coalition forces stabbing toward his fleets heart.

"They'll be diving among us to unleash their short range munitions! Order 3rd and 4th squadrons to close the net around them! Once they're surrounded, we pound them to scrap! Make sure to maintain distance!"

Slamming an olive brown hand on the nearby banister, the politically appointed officer could feel the battle unraveling.

"If it had only been the Turians…"

Khato knew he wasn't the best officer, but after the disaster at Reach and expanding war, he had made it his mission to understand these new humans and their capabilities. The weapons they brought to warfare was fearsome, and he could instantly tell their goal.

A massed broadside of fusion warheads to break the morale of his fleet. Reasserting his full attention, the officer grew even more furious at the Coalition fleet surged and jinked, angling toward the 4th squadron on his left flank.

They had seen the trap before it was even sprung, instead aiming to pick his command apart piece by piece.

"Adjust course! We can't let destroy another squadron!" Khato roared out. But deep down, he knew it would be too late based on the telemetry feeding into the table before him.

Loomis and Strand purposely split their commands, creating a double line of vessels to surround the enemy squadron before the rest of the fleet managed to assist.

It would be close…possibly down to seconds.

Reminiscent of water navies of old, both sides had broadside capabilities, a stayover from a common historical development. But the Batarians were outmatched even as all their vessels opened up, sending smaller slugs to flare and smash against Coalition shields and hulls.

The Seran's weathered the gauntlet of fire, even Jilane taking numerous hits, but her shields held firm, rippling with bluish flares. Three destroyers fell out of line, the punishment of rapid fire munitions breaking the barriers and cracking hulls. Glowing armor faced the darkness of space as defensive lasers pulsed and flared, trying to give those crews enough time to enter slipspace and retreat.

Only one survived to enter the swirling rupture, evading death.

Five seconds later, both commands had sufficiently enveloped the enemy squadron, unleashing a furious hell.

Secondary Boomshot launchers erupted in fire, coupled with the destroyers turning to fire another wave of torpedoes.

The sheer number rose above six hundred of the sprinting warheads, more than enough to saturate the defenses of the Batarian ships. Defensive lasers rose to life, stabbing and claiming hundreds of the munitions, but it wasn't enough.

Two hundred thirteen flaring suns burned into existence, killing eighty three percent of the enemy forces in one sweep. When the light faded, the ships that survived were a disorganized, demoralized mess of twisted bulkheads, flickering engines, and shattered hulls open to the harshness of space.

In the span of fifteen minutes of combat across thousands of miles of space, the Batarian 2nd fleet lost five hundred and seventy two vessels, a near total of half their numbers.

"DESTROY THEIR FLAGSHIP!" Rear Admiral Khato roared, spittle flying from his mouth. To accept such losses without retuning the suffering in kind was inexcusable.

Honor demanded it.

"We're in weapons range of the 1st Coalition squadron, Sir!" tactical yelled as the sublight engines almost redlined to close the gap.

"FIRE!" Radgamon bellowed, his closed fist slamming on the nearby banister for effect.

Jilane shuddered under the heavy salvo, her shields rippling as the warship belched another boomshot salvo toward the enemy. Sentinel batteries stabbed lights, claiming countless MAC rounds as Jayde Strands command began to take a beating. Dozens of the smaller ships felt it the worse, many of them taking rising damage during the spatial turn.

Eighteen destroyers along with two Battlecruisers were stricken and wounded, their hulls glowing from the punishing fire as their comrades tried to shield them from total destruction. Hundreds of Seran lives were lost when the Arden took a battleship round to the starboard flank, ripping open the hull like a knife wound. Spilling air and gases among the melted hull, Arden entered emergency Slipspace, but not before firing her remaining Boomshot munitions at multiple targets, killing a Batarian light cruiser among a fresh cluster of burning suns.

Still, it was the Seran flagship that took the heaviest pounding, despite the overtasked laser batteries claiming incoming shells every few seconds. Escorted by two Longshot cruisers, the trio of ships managed to complete the turn to point their bows at the Batarian Dreadnaught suicidally entering the battle.

Dark Veil took three heavy blows to the lower, forward decks, her shields momentarily knocked out, causing a following shell to impact the same area and crumple half the bow like a mangled fender. Undaunted, the ship's crew returned fire with a Thermic Lance, burning across the space to sizzle against Radgamon's flagship.

Jayde felt her ship shudder violently, blowing fresh relays around her as klaxons warbled and screamed.

"Ma'am! Shields are down to twenty two percent! Hammer of Dawn is ready to fire!"

"Then fire dammit! Blow that Dreadnaught from the sky!"

Another heavy hit flung several crew to the deck, the large warship losing forward shields as several hits tore open forward sections of the hull, spilling crew to the void. Emergency power restored them, but the forward hull glowed hot from the damage like a sundered forge of embers and melted bulkheads. Simply put, five of the lower decks at the bow had been torn away, leaving nothing but exposed latticework among buckled hull plates.

Jilane fired two searing beams at the enemy flagship, coupled with the continual battery of the nearby cruisers already beating down the shields

Hammer of Dawn fire cut through the weakened barriers easily, slicing through the 2nd fleets flagship length as the crew inside died among a superheated fire, many of them becoming ash at their stations. Cutting through the engines like paper, the Batarian Dreadnaught exploded with all hands, sending twisted shards into the void.

Another beam of heat erupted from Ganil Sea, claiming a wounded pocket battleship as Lieutenant Commander Loomis finally re-entered the battlespace, bringing much needed reprieve. His Destroyers sprinted fast, their sublight engines burning a harsh blue among launching torpedoes and massed salvos of standard shells.

A wreaking hell of exploding suns broke against Batarian hulls and shields, none able to stop them all as the reunited Seran forces unleashed a nightmarish blow of firepower.

Thermic slugs tore through ships as Batarian fire broke open splintered hulls, many of them slagged wrecks themselves before another wave of MAC rounds and fusion tipped warheads broke through failing defenses.

Commander Strands squadron bled ships and lives, unwilling to retreat despite many of them being gnarled wrecks. But they were Seran's. They fought with everything they had and the Batarian's couldn't match such resolve.

The surviving flagships of the 2nd fleet simply couldn't keep the rout from happening as their lighter ships died under those exploding fusion suns or burned through by Hammer of Dawn fire.

Captain Tookin of Batarian Valor, a battleship tried to salvage the situation, but his ship took three full beams of HOD fire along with seven Thermic Lances.

It came apart into pieces, Tookin clawing for air as he was sucked out into space with his fellow officers.

After that…the 2nd fleet was essentially leaderless and broken, having suffered seven hundred and eighteen lost or wounded vessels in a mere hour. In comparison, The Coalition lost ninety three with another two hundred and seventy damaged to some degree…many grievously.

It wasn't long before the first ships began to retreat, simply unable to take any more punishment against the overwhelming and superior firepower of the COG.

"Ma'am! They're breaking for the second relay! Scattered units are showing a rout!" the man at tactical yelled, his head dripping red from a glancing blow with the floor.

"Pursue and fire! Just like at Reach, let none escape!"

Twin beams of superheated energy lanced out, a blood red orange among the bridge crew as Jilane fired into the exposed engine of a light cruiser. Her MAC fired seconds later, crippling a light destroyer. Nearby, Ganil Sea pushed further ahead with a relatively intact squadron, Loomis eager to show the Batarian's the folly of war against the Coalition.

The Serans were not inclined to show any mercy as wounded ships were quickly overwhelmed and destroyed, becoming nothing more than dying moths under the flames of war.

Admiral Pod'neb knew the battle was lost the moment Radgamon's flagship was destroyed.

"But then, the odds were never really in the Hegemony's favor to begin with. Even if I had thrown everything at the Coalition fleet, the Turian's would have just rolled up behind me and crushed my force. I was damned the moment the Seran's arrived, forcing me to split my fleets"

His ship vibrated from firing, targeting a Turian vessel among the swirling rocks and ice of the belt. He believed he had given a good account of himself, but the losses were mounting and his ships simply couldn't take on twice their number against the Turian's.

"Comms. Contact Adek and inform them of our loss. I suggest they surrender before our enemies enter orbit. Then order all ships to retreat to the relay. We must attempt to reorganize at Cholis before our enemies mount another attack"

"Although I doubt that insufferable governor will. He'll fight to the end if I judged him correctly" Sitting down, Pod'neb felt beyond exhausted as his fleet began to retreat. He knew some would have to die in a delaying action if he was to save the remnants of the 4th fleet.

"Cholis…practically the doorstep to Khar'shan. And they'll no doubt use me as a scapegoat" Curling his fingers into the armrest as his ships fled the belt, the Batarian made a vow that would not happen.

"I'd rather fight those inept, corrupt nobles that started this war than to be their scapegoat" His black eyes widened at the forming thought, the possibility of insurrection growing more palpable by the second.

"Admiral! The 2nd fleet remnants are begging for help! The Seran's are hunting them mercilessly toward the relay!"

Pod'neb knew it was futile, but he should study the current dispositions just in case. Rising once more, he approached the holographic table. Expanding to a systemwide view, he knew those that fell behind were dead.

The Seran's wanted to crush them under their boot, and honestly, he would probably have done the same. Most of those demoralized and shattered squadrons would die under Coalition fire, and if he were to join the effort, the Turians would block the relay, sealing all their fates.

"Keep on course. Those that make it through survive to fight another day. Those that don't will die"

"Understood, sir"

Returning to his command chair with a heavy heart, the seven hundred and forty vessels of 4th fleet would survive to escape through the Mass Relay in the next hour…along with one hundred and thirteen shattered survivors of the 2nd fleet.

The Turians arrived at sublight ten minutes later, the closest vessels witnessing the Relay surge with energy as the last Batarian vessels were slung out of the system at unimaginable speeds. Hanging in the void around the massive object, the avian's reorganized themselves, beginning to conduct repairs and inventory.

"Report" Admiral Tibernius ordered simply as his fleet kept a maintained station. The Batarians had fled through minutes before, nearly nine hundred escaping the battlefield. While his forces had been victorious, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

The Coalition fleet had fought much harder and dealt a crippling blow to the Batarians, responsible for the destruction of nearly one thousand vessels. A great victory for them.

"No, a stunning, crushing blow. Commander Strand may be reckless getting into knife range, but she fights bravely and ferociously. I have no doubt if the situation called for it, she would ram her dreadnaught into an enemy just to see them perish"

"Sir. We lost one hundred and three ships, mostly lighter classes. Another two hundred and twelve are reporting damage and personnel losses. The fleet we faced lost more, but that was to be expected. As for the Coalition, they suffered nearly twenty five percent losses along with nearly half of the survivors damaged severely"

"Not surprising considering they were outnumbered over three to one"

"Tibernius. We can't allow ourselves to be shown up by the Serans! Allow me to pursue with the tenth fleet! The enemy is not only greatly damaged, but demoralized as well! Taking the next system now is possible, but we must strike immediately! Or do you wish for the Coalition to take all the glory?"

Tibernius could feel himself nodding in agreement with the holographic image of Admiral Capinius. After all, their own losses had been quite minimal.

"Very well. Proceed to Cholis. The 8th will begin the invasion of Adek along with our battle tested allies"

Capinius smirked lightly, pleased with the order. "I still thank the spirits it was the Terrans at Relay Three fourteen and not the Seran's. They fight too much like us and the Krogan"

"I won't argue about that, old friend. Now go and bring glory to your fleet and the Hierarchy"

"For the cause"

The communication ended, a fluttering of fading pixels as Tibernius pondered his next orders. "The 4th battle squadron will remain on standby around the Cholis Relay. The remainder of the fleet will approach Adek. Hopefully the Serans will leave some of the invasion for our own soldiers as well"

A rippling chuckle from Turian crew rippled around the bridge, a light joke despite the severity of the situation. All knew that if the Batarian colony did not surrender, full bombardment had been authorized to quell them. A risky proposition considering the high slave population which was mostly Asari on the planet.

"Comms, open a channel with the Seran's"

"Of course, Admiral" a male replied quickly, the crewman adept in his task. Seconds later, a fresh holographic image appeared of Commander Jayde Strand, her hair disheveled and visible with several minor cuts. She blinked slowly, a flash of light behind her from a power surge.

"Admiral Tibernius"

"Commander. I would like to congratulate you on a hard fought battle. Your tenacity doesn't due you justice"

A ghost of a smile graced the woman's lips, tugging upwards. "I see the tenth fleet is already moving through the relay. Pursuing a beaten enemy will demoralize their command even further. A shame my command is too heavily damaged"

"I'm sure defeating a second Batarian fleet in less than six months of war with the Hegemony is quite enough. Unless you prefer to be surrounded and outnumbered?"

Jayde barked a laugh, the woman actually smiling with a bit of cockiness. "Don't you know, Admiral? Seran's always fight their best when we're outnumbered and surrounded. The enemy just gives us a target rich environment"

"I'll have to remember that" Tibernius grinned lightly while clasping his hands behind his back. "Now, I'm sure you'll refuse due to that Seran pride of yours, but we can assist in the recovery of your stricken ships and fallen crew"

"And I'm sure a few of your crews would get lost studying our slip space engines in the meantime?"

Tibernius stifled a light cough, clearing his throat. "Obviously, we would honor the Reach Accords to the letter. The theft of your technology would not be tolerated, we aren't the suit rats after all"

Commander Strand looked away, a low tone of murmurs offscreen. "Our Repair ships are on the way along with the troops transports and their escorts. Lieutenant Commander Loomis will be taking charge of recovery efforts" The woman's face went hard, almost blank. "While I am sure you would honor the agreement put forth in the Accords, Admiral, I cannot permit it. Standing orders are to safeguard our military secrets by all means. Ignoring them would be dereliction of my duty and treason. I am sure you can understand"

"Of course. If one of my own officers were to perform such a dereliction of their duties, they would face similar charges. However, many of my ships are still undamaged and can assist in the recovery of Coalition naval dead"

Her face grew heavier for a moment, showing an age beyond her years. "Don't disturb the dead in the void. They fought and died like Seran's, honoring the ancestors. To disturb their final resting place would be a grave insult. It would be tantamount to disturbing an infantry man's funeral pyre"

"Do you not bury your dead on your homeworld or colonies?"

"No. Burying our dead beneath the soil…that's where the locust came from and the pathway to hell. Releasing their remains to the heavens…then we can be sure their spirits reached the old fallen. Those that fell today…" Jayde almost looked peaceful, her gaze soulful. "Those fallen have already reached the peace of the afterlife, sharing stories and meals with all the honored dead of my people"

The transmission quickly ended, placing the flagships bridge in a moment of silence.

Retaking his chair, Tibernius could feel the pride of his own honor stirring and the losses of his own people in this battle.

"Those that wish to give silent words to all our fallen, may your prayers guide the spirits of the Seran's as well"

Looking out the viewing window at the blanket of stars, the Admiral couldn't see them, but those drifting men and women of the Coalition deserved Turian words of honor.

Adek. 27th of Sorrow, 422 A.E.

Two days had been spent on recovery efforts, a luxury of time since the Batarian's had nothing left to strike with in terms of naval forces. With the severely damaged warships being towed back to Reach with escorts, the total forces the Coalition mustered barely surpassed three hundred.

Obviously, Jayde Strand remained in high orbit, Jilane scarred and beaten, but not broken as the main transports and Kaliso assault ships waited among the mass of warships.

Spinning wreckage of orbital installations had been gutted by the Coalition while the twisted remnants of satellites and freighters began to glow from reentry, the crews dead or dying. Batarian bodies drifted nearby, many soon to be captured by the gravity well of the planet and pulled downward as disintegrating fire.

None of the Seran's felt pity for those helpless fools, the minor combat hours earlier laughably easy as their craft began to point downward, preparing for the bombardment.

The Turian's were a quarter spin to the left of the planet, going over the final invasion preparations against the main continent.

"Admiral. I'm receiving a report from the Tenth fleet. They've taken Cholis with minimal losses. The surviving Batarian ships are most likely fleeing to Anhulak. Estimated number is less than seven hundred"

"Excellent. Send my congratulations to the Admiral then inform the council of our victories here. If Pontificus and the 7th fleet take Venrak'sha soon, the noose will greatly tighten around the Hegemony. They would have to be mad to continue the war after such losses"

"Sir. I'm picking up a transmission from the Jilane. All bands and radio spectrums aimed at Adek"

"Damn. She was supposed to wait" Tibernius scowled, but then, really couldn't blame the Seran. They wanted the Batarian's crushed so they could fight the 'real war' against the Caliphate. He hardly had to give the order of listening in, his communications officer foreseeing his desire as the emerald haired Commander appeared on a screen, her uniform pressed and almost drinking in the blackness among the gold trim. A naval cap rested upon her head, a central gear easily seen.

"I am Commander Jayde Strand of the Coalition of Ordered Governments. You have escaped complete retribution thanks to the presence of the Turian Hierarchy and their desire to avoid a massacre" She took a small breath, continuing easily. "Your people started this war, a war my species did not want. Your atrocities are well known, an unending stream of genocide, sentient violations, piracy and slavery. However, I am not without mercy. The colonial government has one hour to implement a complete and unconditional surrender to Coalition and Citadel forces. If you do not comply within the allotted time, I will begin a full bombardment of your cities until you surrender…or until you all perish"

"Sir! There's already a response from the Batarian governor! Full transmission spectrum!"

Tibernius scowled, having a sinking feeling. If the Hegemony had been smart, they would surrender. The Coalition would not bluff about this.

A scowling, green skinned Batarian appeared behind a desk, his anger almost frothing while four eyes spoke of complete rage. "Do your worst Seran! In Addekkah alone I have tens of thousands Asari slaves and even more soldiers to defend my capital! The Coalition does not have the fortitude to murder all the hostages I own! Your troops have no chance against my soldiers and their natural superiority!"

The transmission from the Jilane was still going strong, Jayde not showing a twitch of anger while straightening her back.

"Very well. The suffering of your people will be on your head. Weapons? Target the cities of Shanek, Bolo, and Tivil. Have the Kaliso's target landing zones and prepare for drop"

The Turians held a front row seat as the battle scarred Dreadnaught fired thirty seconds later, twin beams of superheated energy slicing through the clouds of the garden world with ease. Below, Shanek, a coastal city of three million was consumed in glowing heat and roiling firestorms, the energy wave burrowing a crater in the city's center as tens of thousand Batarians were consumed like kindling and matchsticks in an instant. Buildings and structures were engulfed in fire, the pavement of the city streets turning to broken glass as the wave of energy rolled through the metropolis, killing all in its wake.

Fifty miles to the East among rolling hills and a wide river that sliced through the main continent, Bolo met the same fate as Ganil Sea fired, consuming more Batarian lives in an instant. Men and women screamed in horror, trying to protect their young as Asari slaves tried to flee, their loss deemed acceptable. The cratering heat actually struck the center of the river, adding a temporary steam cloud as the water evaporated before flying away into nothing from the pressure wave. Bridges buckled and broke under the bombardment, flinging ground vehicles toward the banks below as fire consumed all.

Above, several Cruisers and Battle cruisers began the targeting of Tivil, a mid sized military production center that housed several divisions of Batarian troops. Nestled in the low mountains leading to the planetary capital, it too was consumed in lances of fire and MAC rounds in a terrible bombardment that sowed a devastating butchery among the locals. Buildings fell and collapsed, trapping countless lives as they screamed for help…but none would come.

The military instillations had been the first targeted in the city, the training camps and barracks becoming no more than a charred landscape.

"All ships, target military concentrations, industry and infrastructure. The Batarians made their decision, now they must live with the consequences"

The transmission ended without fanfare, only punctuated by the Coalition vessels ramping up more of the bombardment.

"Admiral, they're leaving the colonial capital, the equatorial cities, and the main slave processing camps alone for now, but we must commence the invasion if we are to liberate the Asari and pacify this enemy"

Tibernius was momentarily stunned by the brutality of the Commander, her resolve frightening in many ways. Those three cities alone held an estimated total population of eight to ten million, and she just killed the majority of them in the opening salvo.

"But then, the Seran's know exactly what kind of hell those weapons entail upon living worlds. Their history speaks about that in volumes. The lives of slavers really don't concern them"

Tibernius cleared the stunned thoughts, clasping his hands behind his back once more. "Yes, of course. Commence the invasion immediately"

"Sir. The Coalition drop ships are already deploying their divisions" a female crewman sounded out, bringing up several cameras to watch the Kaliso's deploy. The magnification was maximized, an effortless technological effort on the Turian's part.

After all, many were curious about this deployment of battle.

Thousands of drop pods floated above the planet, disgorging from the vessels like tiny sticks of silver. They soon began to glow, falling toward the capital city en masse upon streaks of fire like falling meteors.

"They're insane…" a random male whispered in awe, the light show continuing for several minutes while the transports fired at the surface, no doubt in a bid to soften up landing zones. The main transports remained in orbit, waiting for the signal to descend and unleash fresh reinforcements.

"Good thing we don't have Krogan with us, they'd be upset not being able to enter battle like that" another crewman stated with a light joke…then quickly got back to work as the Turian transports surged toward the planet.

Addekkah Spaceport and Merchant District.

Defensive laser batteries pulsed and stabbed the rain soaked sky, lances of red and orange sizzling and popping among the torrential downpour. The gunner crews were desperate, the total wrath of the Coalition felt in earnest as the bombardment continued across the planet. The first drop pods had fallen all over the city, a wave of madness as the Gears began to deploy and take the war to the enemy.

The nearby city of Alkor burned over the horizon, a plume of ash and glowing embers constantly interrupted by continuous MAC strikes. The city had been home to several divisions of troops and mercenaries, but they were most likely dead as more strikes pummeled vast stretches of the colony.

Addekkah's dark skies seemed to burn with flashing, stabbing lights across the numerous districts and miles of urban sprawl, the most concentrated around the government buildings and supporting structures. Batarian crews would give low cheers as Seran drop pods were consumed in flashes of light, but the jovial congratulations were often short lived.

There were just too damn many of those pods falling, numbering in the thousands. Even if hundreds of the pods were destroyed, there were more to take their place as ten full divisions fell toward the city of eight million.

Captain Nolan Prescott the third felt a bone jarring jolt as his pod crashed into the pavement of the spaceport, the helmet on his head quickly studying the private across from him.

The door popped off with a tiny explosive of bolts, falling away as Nolan retrieved his lancer. "Get moving private! We need to secure this spaceport immediately!" The man shouted, his words lightly muffled as he took his own words to heart and jumped out onto the tarmac.

Grounded trade ships were burning around him or reduced to scrap, their ruin just part of the landscape. Pulses of blue rifle fire erupted from a nearby building hosting a comms array…along with a large defensive cannon that sent constant pulses of light into the water-logged sky. There were a total of four around the port, supported by smaller anti-air pieces, but those big ones were capable of massive damage against the main transports.

They had to be neutralized.

"Ninth Company! Get into that building and kill that cannon!" Prescott roared over the local comms as he ran low, zigzagging toward a low slung concrete barrier. Weapons fire stabbed outward from the terminal in flashes, one of them a long burst that cut down a man nearby. The tracers of light burned through the rain, maiming two more Gears as they howled, the armor they wore incapable of taking that harsh punishment of sustained weapons fire.

Nolan would have to get a tally of losses later as the deluge of water continued. Popping up, he fired at the second-floor window of the machine gun nest, but quickly ducked down into cover as dozens of Batarian's fired at his company, filling the storm with pulses of deadly light. Gears all along the line would randomly pop up and fire, a dull roar of war and battle as the four eyed slavers would do the same.

A sniper in the building put of slug of mass accelerated metal into the head of a nearby gear, popping the helmet and skull with a grisly spray. Collapsing in a heap, the corpse drained red across the tarmac as a nearby Lance Corporal wielded a Thermic Lance.

"FIRE!" The young woman bellowed out, the shoulder mounted weapon spitting a lance of super-heated light at the structures second floor. The slug burned through the rain, flash frying it into steam before slamming through the window, detonating against a Batarian that had been switching positions.

He literally exploded, a miniscule effort for the lance as fire bloomed out, setting the nearby Batarian warriors on fire. Their barriers and armors really didn't do much against heat meant for destroying pillboxes and armor. Instead, they bellowed hellish screams as their skin melted, a visual horror for those nearby. The blast wave consumed five rooms of the second floor, gutting the main defensive efforts of the aliens inside. Several wounded writhed and screamed, fire licking at their charred skin with ease as others tried to stem the tide of Seran's pushing forward with desperate rifle fire.

"MOVE! Scorcher Teams get up to those windows and hose those four eyes down!" Prescott shouted out as he vaulted over the concrete barricade. Rushing in a low, zigzagging crouch, rifle fire was constant through the storm. A bullet slammed into his chest piece, staggering the Captain, but he pushed through the pain, taking cover at the terminal wall near a window. A female cried out, three rounds taking her leg out in a howl of agony among the charge. A male stopped, hoisting her over his shoulder in a sign of comradery before running toward the terminals exterior.

Blasts of heat and fire erupted from the large Gear wielding a scorcher a the next window over, a billowing flame that earned a symphony of agony within. Two Gears then jumped through the burning gap, rifle reports and churning lancers barely heard among the roar of combat.

Gasping heavily in the helmet, Prescott winced, his sternum feeling like hammer blows. But there was no time to think about that. Grabbing a fragmentation grenade from his belt, he thumbed the button, the safety pin spinning away before tossing it through the shattered window nearby.

Alien shouts resounded, but the bomb blew quickly in a blast of shrapnel.

"Inside! Kill those bastards!" Nolan roared as he led be example, vaulting the low window. A Batarian shot at him, the rounds going wide in a panic. Prescott shot him in the upper throat with a five round burst, the kinetic barriers doing nothing to stop the fourth and fifth rounds tearing away flesh. Two more wounded aliens were on the floor, groaning from shrapnel and burn wounds as they tried to raise weapons.

Prescott shot them without mercy, not inclined to take prisoners of such a vile race. Rushing toward a large, support column in the middle of the terminal, the Captain leaned out to fire as the enemy tried to reorganize near some open sided staircases and a security checkpoint. Those that didn't make a hasty retreat were shot in the back…or faced the churring chainsaws of lancers.

Screams of torment filled the air, but it was a mere added note to the combat.

The Gears lay down a horrible, withering fire as they quickly gained a foothold in the terminal, paving the wave for more Seran's. Another thermite lance pulsed out from that same lance corporal, blowing apart the security checkpoint in an expanding burst of rubble and body parts as fire lashed out, consuming flesh.

Several Gears rushed up, one literally stomping a wounded Batarian's head in with a crunch of bone and gristle. Others used their lancers, a fresh ripping sound that tore through armors of chest cavities in a spray of blood and gore.

"Up those stairs! Lieutenant Penderson! Take the left flight!" Prescott ordered into his helmet comms, the veteran already following a few Gears up the right hand flight of steps. Men and women rushed, taking the top with ease.

Fire licked at the walls among dead and cooked aliens, the smell no doubt awful to those that were without helmets. Bits of rubble had collapsed near the gaping hole in the exterior wall, falling on the ruined machine gun nest as a few wounded clung to life.

Those wounded were executed without a thought, mercy not needed. His company began to push forward among the expansive, open walkway of the terminal, the enemy having decided to cut and run to a better position.

Small arms fire popped from ahead of the men and women, lancing through the dusty air like flashes of blue. Nolan and many more pushed forward under fire, but it was a haphazard, disorganized affair from hastily constructed barricades of debris and terminal seating.

Nolan shifted to the left side of the large hallway, ducking behind a powered down luggage conveyor, some parcels still sitting there, unclaimed. Men and women joined him, a staggered line of two platoons across the width of the terminal as they began to exchange fire with the Batarian's. Most were behind lines of seats or support pillars, viable positions for now.

Peering over the soft bag of luggage, Prescott eyed the Batarian's one hundred fifty feet away. They were guarding a doorway, the doors themselves sealed and sturdy with weight. A shimmer of light rippled across the doors occasionally from random bullet strikes, but it was obviously shielded.

"Bastards barely have a platoon guarding that cannon entrance…maybe a full squad to man it inside?" He mused before ducking back down. Eyeing Lance Corporal Ashland and the Thermite Lance weapon magnetized to her armor plate, the woman was crouched down with her loader, nursing a visual blemish along her abdominal armor.

"Ashland. Would you be kind enough to knock that door down?"

"With pleasure, Captain" the woman replied eagerly as she began to set up, the private nearby feeding a fresh lance into the back of the tube.

"The rest of you, lay down a heavy fire. Private Chellinik, use that damn longshot and blow away some Batarian heads" Prescott ordered with a low shout, the man rising slightly to fire at the outnumbered squad beyond. Laying down a heavy burst, the man wasn't sure if he hit anybody, but there was so much lead flying through the air it was pointless to try and find out.

Ashland didn't take long to prepare, the female gear resting the long tube on her shoulder.

"Clear!"

"Fire in the Hole!"

A lance of fire blazed out in a flash of light, crossing the gap in a mere eyeblink before slamming into the shielded doors. Roiling fire splashed out as the barriers failed, causing flame to eat and consume those aliens in a flare of light and inferno. Horrid screams erupted from the defenders, one fully engulfed breaking from cover into the open, only to be shot down by a sniper. Flesh melted inside the armors, one hapless Batarian having his eyes literally burned from his head in a nightmare of agony.

"Hit it again!" Prescott roared at the Lance Corporal, the two man team already reloading for another strike.

It came half a minute later, slamming into the flickering shields and completing the destruction this time. Those doors came apart like a ripped open can, twisting with force or half melted as Captain Prescott rose. Men and women easily rushed forward, bypassing the dead and grievously wounded enemy. Entering the mangled doorway, reports of gunfire and screams rose, but was quickly silenced as the guards were overwhelmed.

Prescott entered the cannon's control room with a swagger, stepping over the body of a Batarian that had meet the grisly end of a lancer. The weapons controls were primed and ready, just waiting on a large enough target. A few cameras screens showed the spaceport engulfed in war, crawling with Coalition troops as they overwhelmed some of the smaller defensive batteries. Burning trade ships sizzled and poured acrid smoke into the rainstorm as several companies laid siege to the frontal gate leading into the city.

From what Nolan could gather, the gate was already taking fire from both sides as Gears quickly formed a battle line in the streets outside, creating a ring of steel filled with dead enemies.

But the ship killing cannons still stood, firmly in Hegemony hands as one of them across the port foolishly fired a searing pulse of light toward orbit. It was a complete waste of effort on the Batrian's part.

An idea came to mind, almost fiendish as the Captain began to use the computer to retarget, the battery beginning to center on one of the large defensive cannons toward the North-East. Toggling comms in the open, Prescott spoke plainly.

"All Coalition troops near the North-East cannon take cover. Your about to get a helping hand" Pressing the firing button, an energized sliver of mass accelerated tungsten was used, flying across the embattled tarmac to strike its sister cannon mid length.

It buckled and smoked, but not enough to completely knock it out. Scowling, Nolan fired again, the weapon crippling and knocking out its sister with a thunderous explosion. Already depressed, the large turret cannon began to rotate as the Captain input fresh targets, intending on finishing the job.

Those Batarian's either didn't realize what was happening, or didn't care to try, but in another few minutes, the big guns were silenced. Stepping away, Captain Prescott was damned pleased with himself.

"Get some charges on this console and destroy this cannon then clear out, main transports will be dropping soon"

"Yes sir!" a few nearby privates shouted, a demo team starting their task in moments.

Once that final cannon went up in a rocking explosion of smoke and flame, the transports began to descend to the space port as the planet burned below.

Addekkah. 30th of Sorrow, 422 A.E.

Three days of hell consumed the capital city, the Hegemony fighting like feral dogs against the Turian's and Seran's. Large swaths of neighborhoods and several districts and been pulverized by supporting orbital fire, artillery, and armor forces, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake to take the central government and force a capitulation.

Unfortunately for the Batarian's, their troops were just not a match for the Turian's or Seran's in terms of training and capability. They had been used as slave masters, riot police and for quelling dissent…not a full invasion.

Artillery rained down on an apartment block, shells tearing away at the façade while the defenders inside no doubt cowered for their lives. The Batarian's had set up a strong point at the end of this boulevard, giving lines of sight and interlocking fields of small arms fire. Flashes of light poured out of several windows despite the constant shelling, the high speed space weaponry trying to find Gears to end.

Nolan Prescott wiped the humid sweat from his brow, the Captain ducked behind a pile of rubble from a ruined store. Having finally removed his helmet, the man's black hair matched a familiar facial structure to the famous leader of the locust war. But then, many in the Prescott family could claim similar bone structure, including his father and grandfather.

Ninth company was pinned down but this damn strong point, the fire heavy and deadly. A scream resounded from across the road, a man clutching his arm from sniper fire.

"DAMMIT! Stay down! Just let the artillery do it's job!" Nolan bellowed above the rumble and shaking earth. War and explosions echoed from nearby streets and battles, a constant reminder of this sluggish hell. And the stench…the stench of rotting corpses in the streets, unwashed bodies along with cordite, ash, and fear was nearly overwhelming.

He looked inside the ruined storefront, three terrified and dirty Asari with slave markings on their arms clutching each other near the bullet-marked counter-top.

"Another reason to hate these fucking slavers"

While Nolan hadn't really dealt with any Asari or particularly like them, that was a world of difference to finding them in bonds and treated like cattle.

A dull roar of collapse came from the end of the road, some artillery shells tearing away most of the left supporting walls of the apartment complex. Half of it began to sag and collapse, crumbling into the roadway in a plume of dust and breaking materials. Nolan called off the artillery over his comms, the crews at the spaceport no doubt shifting to new targets immediately.

"Movement!" A female shouted, raising the alarm as the strongpoint defenders vacated the collapse…with Asari slave hostages in front of them. The Batarian's didn't see them as living beings, only as shields against the Seran's. Opening fire, the Hegemony troops hid behind the terrified females, laying down a fresh fusillade that cracked and danced across the boulevard.

Nolan could hear them laughing and taunting, but the hundred yard chasm of distance, along with the unending symphony of war blocked most of it.

"Sir?" A nearby Gear asked, a little unsure because of the hostages.

Nolan scowled, hating himself for this, but he couldn't risk the lives of his men because some arrogant four-eyed asshead thought he would just lay down and die from the sight of hostage slaves.

Rising above the pile of concrete, brick, and glass, Nolan felt a new hatred for the Hegemony. "Fire!" squeezing the trigger, his lancer spat a stream of rounds into the hostage Asari, bowling one over before ten rounds smashed the barrier and armor of a Batarian, heavily maiming the fiend.

All along the roadway, Nineth company opened up, a grim determination to end those hated aliens.

For the Batarian's…they should have stayed inside the blockhouse, most of them would have lived longer as bullets and sniper rounds tore through the slaves and the soldiers alike, killing without mercy.

In a minute, it was over, a pile of dead and crying wounded among the rubble and craters. "Move up. If you find any living Asari, try to tend their wounds. Execute the enemy" Nolan ordered coldly as he stood up cautiously.

His men and women moved up cautiously, none rushing to wander into the sights of some sniper or hidden machine gun nest.

There were none. At least, for this street anyway. Cries of mercy begged from Batarian throats, quickly cut off by gunshots as his men secured the area. Nolan was one of them, his face a crease of sorrow as the dead Asari stared up into a blue sky.

"You Seran's are bastards, firing on innocent slaves like that" A Batarian officer taunted, his body mangled and knee ruined. Bleeding profusely, the alien grinned with a mocking stare. "And you call us monsters…hehe"

Nolan stepped on the alien's chest, pressing down hard as he flipped the switch of his lancer, hatred in his eyes. "The only monster here is you" Plunging the spinning teeth into the Batarian's stomach, the beast roared in agony as blood flew and splattered the road, ichor a stench of gore. Yanking the weapon out, Nolan spat on the corpse.

"Captain. We found nine of the Asari still alive" A private cocked with a thumb, but the Captain could already see them. "Have the medics do their best to treat them, then set them up in that shop with those others. The rest of you, set up a defensive perimeter for the time being"

Studying the boulevard, it had become a T-intersection, leading to the East and West and his fellow companies of the 3rd Battalion he was a part of. The blockhouse before him was a ruin of gutted floors and room, but half still stood.

"Lieutenant Fullstrom, secure that building. We'll probably be moving through it to the next neighborhood and I don't want any surprises"

"Yes sir" the other man replied with exhaustion, the younger officer rounding up his platoon.

Easing himself onto a fallen beam in the road, Nolan ran gritty gloves through his short, black hair as he took a small break.

A female gear nearby shifted, her line of sight falling on the two story homes lining the streets or the small shops. Movement shifted among the windows, making her uneasy as a few aliens were spotted. "Sir, we're being watched by Batarian's"

"Probably their third class or second caste civilians. As long as they don't bother us, we don't bother them"

"And if one of them decides to take a shot at us?"

"Then we shoot back"

A loud explosion rocked the earth from the West, another plume of black smoke pouring into the sky along with increased weapons fire.

It didn't faze the Captain as he listened to comms, his face a passive frown.

"Looks like the Turian's will beat us to the government center of the city. Guess the operation worked pretty well" Mentally shrugging, the captain began to inventory his ammunition, under the gaze of terrified civilians hiding in their homes.

Addekkah Colonial Bridge. Six hours later.

The Centaur tank rocked back on its treads, the concussive blast of fire and shell erupting from the canon with a stunning report. Impacting the corner building across the river, the top two floors collapsed in a ruin of fire and rubble. Rumbling forward, its crew drove over a few dead Batarian corpses that had fallen at the southern entrance. Rippling machine gun fire traversed the six lane bridge, sparking off the armor platoon, ruined vehicles and impacting the unfortunate Gears that hadn't made it to cover in time.

"Behind the tanks! And don't bunch up!" Prescott roared out over his ringing ears, his own voice muffled. Mortars began to fall on the bridgehead, chewing up concrete while flinging peppering steel. One of those shells shrieked against the slopped plate of the center tank, skewering into three Gears behind it, ending their lives in a snuff of time.

The left Centaur halted, the turret swiveling further left toward another building lining the river. Mortar plumes puffed into the sky from the roof, indicating the four eyes were dug in heavily. Another concussive blast rocked the bridge as the tank shell ripped into the structure's third floor window, creating a hell of flame and destruction before clanking forward into the maws of machine gun fire.

Seran artillery began pulverizing the far shore, a marching hell of noise and steel as the 3rd Battalion advanced under fire. Machine gun tracers of blue light and rifle fire poured from the far bank, the Batarians literally dug in across the road. An anti-tank crew opened up with their weapon from the right, a heavy slug smashing the right-hand tanks frontal armor. It sparked off with a scream of tormented metal, but the crew inside survived the blow, the forward machine guns ripping 7.62 bullets toward the enemy.

It wasn't needed as an artillery shell landed on the anti-tank crew, reducing them to paste and ichor across the far road.

Nolan Prescott tried not to bunch up with his men, but those tanks were saviors as bullet magnets. A spark of light snapped past his head, a tinge of blue that stuck a gear further back.

He didn't have time to check if that man had died or not, the advance had to continue.

The falling artillery roared, a constant drum against his ears while the Centaur's laid down a constant explosive fire against targets. A machine gun crew was silenced, blown apart by high explosive and shrapnel as the defenders began to buckle. The withering fire began to slacken, the losses and horrible artillery barrage finally doing its job. Buildings were being pulverized, collapsing into ruin or becoming skeletons of their former selves. Fires raged across several buildings that had been impromptu blockhouses, the inferno a horrid crackle as the bodies inside burned.

Batarian defenders finally broke, the onslaught of armor, artillery, and rifle fire from supporting units across the river too much to bear. Breaking cover was the worst thing they could do, but many of these units had simply been guards or conscripts, hardly of the same class of training the Seran's employed for their troops.

"They're in the open! Cut those bastards down!" Prescott roared out, not knowing if he was heard or not. Taking a knee behind a wrecked ground car, the Captain opened fire on the fleeing enemy, joined by several Gears and the twin machine guns of the Centaur's. Those broken troops suffered even greater horror as they were shot in the back, their protective barriers momentarily flashing…then failing.

One of the last artillery shells to fall took out a group of five, spreading their remains across dirty and rubble choked pavement before the bombardment lifted.

Killing one of the slavers, Prescott rushed up, running past the tanks with dozens of men and women. A few fell from bursts of small arms fire, die hard holdouts in the trench line still fighting to the last.

Nolan reached the trench line across the boulevard, jumping down near a Batarian trying to cool down his weapon. The alien lunged with a roar, using the stock as a club. Prescott shot the soldier point blank in the chest, four rounds shattering the flickering barrier as the beast grunted.

"Eat shit and die!" Nolan yelled savagely, the teeth of his lancer blade already churning. Plunging the hungry teeth between the neck and shoulder, the four eyed enemy howled as blood and gore splattered and flew. Cutting through the armor and chest cavity, the teeth sparked in an orgy of violence, spraying the captain with gore and gristle.

More Gears dropped into the trench, clearing out the few holdouts as Prescott ran along the length toward the right. A three story building still spat fire at the corner of the bridge, the windows housed by a dozen defenders pouring blue rounds directly into the trench.

A female Gear fell before him, her clumsy trip over a body no doubt saving her life as a long burst speared the air above her head. Diving in the blood soaked and churned soil of the trench, the Captain lay prone as several tank rounds tore the building apart, killing all those inside with concussive fire.

"Get moving private! We still have lots of these assholes to kill!"

"Yes sir!" the female cried as she stood. Rushing out of the trench toward the line of ruins along the river bank, 9th company of the 3rd Battalion began to clear the structures as more Coalition forces began to pour across the main bridge, pushing further toward one of the main slave pens of the planetary capital.

Addekkah Government House. 31st of Sorrow, 422 A.E.

Lieutenant Saren Arterius was hunched down in the ruins of a store with his platoon, another rainstorm soaking the city with a tropical deluge. Several bloated corpses of Batarian's, most likely civilian littered the road, their remains being fed upon by vermin. Across the span of pavement from the row of shops his company inhabited, was the main colonial and government complex.

The ruins of anti-air weapons poked at the sky, their warped and rendered cannons useless and silent among the dead crews. But the surrounding wall that protected the complex still stood strong, Batarian troops lining the parapet, occasionally taking potshots at the surrounding Turian forces.

Saren hadn't had a chance to fight the Terrans during the relay 314 incident, and honestly, he still didn't like them and their arrogance to stand against the Hierarchy's might.

But then, the Seran's were found by the Asari. A whole second branch of humanity that not only had a strong history of military campaigns, but victory as well.

Suddenly, overnight Arterius was torn between his massive dislike for the Terrans, and the high respect he felt toward the Coalition and their dedication to service, sacrifice, and honor.

By the spirits, the Cog and his own people were practically cut from the same cloth in terms of cultural values.

How could he hate a people that devised the principles of the Octus Canon? A similar path of guidelines that Turian's of all paths could relate too? And the Locust War? The Pendulum Wars?

Such bravery and sacrifice.

But then he found a new enemy to hate…no.

To loathe.

The Batarian Hegemony dared raise their hand against not only the Council, but the sheer disgust of massed slavery against the Asari.

Liberating the Northern Addekkah Slave pens and…pleasure houses had been an eye opening experience to Saren and his comrades in arms. The filth and flies….starvation and brutalized rape of the Asari slaves had been beyond disgusting and vile.

Saren clenched his phaeston rifle, his rage growing. Some of those slaves didn't even have names, simply referred to as 'property' or 'trash'

He wanted to break this whole, filthy race. But to do that, they needed to take this damn government complex and string up the leadership for the galaxy to see. Breathing deeply, his blue eyes felt the calm.

He couldn't rush into battle enraged, for that was how the enemy found weakness.

Flares streaked across the sky of rain and dark clouds, red and bright among the assembled troops.

The signal to attack.

"To battle! For the glory of the Hierarchy!" Arterius yelled out as several battalions of Turians began to push forward into the ruined streets around the massive complex. Running as the defenders opened fire, the avian's returned it with great effect, supported by several APC's and their heavier guns.

Reaching the main gate, a demolition team planted the charges with ease. Taking cover among the walls surrounding the gate, the charges blew, twisting away the steel and blowing one door away completely. Rushing in, Saren saw a few Batarians rushing forward. Dropping to a knee, the alien fired, killing two of them with his marksmanship. A nearby comrade killed the third, paving the wave for his platoon to reach the main doors of the complex.

"Remember the horror against our Asari allies! No mercy against this varren waste! They have no honor!" Saren shouted as they breached the inner halls. A yell of support came from his platoon, many still having the horror of the slave camps fresh in their minds.

Guards were hiding behind the garish and ugly pedestals, the supposed elite guard that were quick to open fire. Taking cover behind the central reception desk, Saren was with several of his platoon. Leaning out, he fired at a guard, killing the creature in a long burst. Rushing forward under fire, Saren took the column on the left with another Turian.

"Fragmentation!" the lieutenant shouted out as gunfire and bursting grenades filled the grand hall. Throwing it forward, it landed next to a Batarian, blowing the alien apart into a paste of limbs and ichor.

One of his men fell, a burst destroying the head in a sickening crunch of ruin, but the unit pushed toward the central stairs. Exposing himself to fire, Saren fired short bursts at the second level and the enemy troops holding the balcony above. Ducking back, mass accelerated rounds tore into his cover, chipping away.

An explosion rocked the balcony, a rocket team sending the munition into the railing. Shrapnel and pieces of bodies flew, killing five of the enemy in a single blast. Taking a knee at the column, Saren fired another burst upwards, maiming another of the dwindling Batarian's.

"Take the second floor!" he shouted out over the noise of war and screams of agony. Rushing into the open, he felt his personal pride carry him to the top landing, followed by his men. Shooting another enemy down, Saren took cover at the corner of the main hallway leading toward the governor's office.

Very few of the Batarian guards were left, a mere handful trying in vain to fill the hallway with shaved lead and light. Taking cover among small alcoves of adjoining offices, those brave fools really had no chance against Turian resolve.

They died bravely, fighting to the end.

Saren Arterius stepped over the last corpse, coming to the double doors. They rapidly were forced open, the lock easily destroyed. Rushing in, the platoon of troops found the garish and ugly office deserted, with the exception of the governor slumped behind his desk, a Carnifex pistol in his limp hand and a hole in the side of his head.

"Coward" a nearby Turian female stated, the disrespect in her voice dripping with venom.

"Indeed" Arterius agreed, his scowl showing disgust at the Batarian corpse. "How many died because of this stubborn fool?"

Walking toward the window that stared out at a broken and burning city, Saren knew their Coalition allies were still engaged in heavy fighting. But with the taking of the capital and government structures, hopefully that would end soon.

"I almost hope the Hegemony fights to the end, just so we can show them the might of the Council over their homeworld"

"Every body regroup with the company. This battle isn't done yet" Arterius ordered, his form turning away from the window as more fires broke out in the distance.

Khar'shan. 1st of Thaw, 422 A.E.

Admiral Akroy Pod'neb marched down the hallway toward Grand Shan's Ghorek's office, his most trusted officers and soldiers stepping in stride. The pistol hung heavy on the Batarian's hip, but his anger was almost volcanic at the latest orders he had received from their esteemed leader.

"Counter-attack! Madness! We lost Adek and nearly one hundred million of our people! And just yesterday, the Turian's broke through at Venrak'sha! Our fleets are in full retreat there along with the loss of Sha'vale and Erdor! And this damned fool wants to continue this war!?"

Two guards waited outside the office, their armor a dull black and brown. They noticed the rank and heavily armed soldiers. Gulping, one stood to the side, knowing that they really couldn't stop Pod'neb if they tried.

Pushing the door open, Akroy pulled the pistol in one swift movement, aiming down the length at the Grand Shan who was looking over a map with his trusted generals, his face a scowl.

"What is the me—" Ghorek never got to finish as Akroy pulled the trigger repeatedly, ending the Batarian's life. Slumping to the floor, the corpse gave a small twitch as blood began to flow outward from the mortal wounds. The men with him gunned down the generals, not wanting to risk the possibility of resistance.

Stepping over the twitching corpse of Ghorek, Akroy shot him once more out of annoyance before taking the chair. Easing into it, his face was long and haggard, the losses of his people a disaster of unbelievable proportions.

"Contact the Citadel and Coalition. Tell them we surrender. And make sure orders reach our troops and ships" Folding his hands across the desk, the admiral knew his reign would be short. At best, he would be ousted by rich and powerful nobles or some power hungry general, but if he could at least stop this meaningless war, that would be enough.

Still, he couldn't help but feel like a traitor.

The Citadel. 3rd of Thaw, 422 A.E.

Bea Ja'tol looked out from the massive screen in the café, her smiling face familiar with many across the station.

"Hello. I am Bea Ja'tol with C.N.N. and this is breaking news. Hegemony forces have agreed to a cease fire and surrender after the victory at Adek and other battles among allied forces. Current estimates put Batarian losses for the whole war at nearly one hundred thirty million, many of them caused by the Coalition in their war of retribution. Losses in ships and troops were equally horrific as full Hegemony fleets were destroyed in the early days of the war" The female paused, taking a short breath before continuing her report. "Both Coalition and Council representatives have expressed unconditional surrender as the only viable peace, which the current Grand Shan has agreed to. Additionally, several million Asari have been liberated at Adek, the horrors of their experience pushing the Asari Republics for the harshest treatments of the criminals and a full dismantling of the slave trade. This of course is fully supported by Chairman Diaz and the Coalition. And while still too early to tell, territorial gains have a strong possibility of remaining in Alliance, Council, or Coalition hands"

Her face went slightly grim, her eyes giving a darkening gaze. "Obviously, with the Hegemony's surrender, the full weight of the Council will turn toward the Klor'vian Caliphate and their holy war against sentient life. The build-up for the taking of Toad Two continues, and many are eager to take the war to the butchers of Valae"

Urdnot Wrex grunted, digging into his meal. While the war had entered a new phase, he really had no desire to fight and die for the Turians or Asari. Sure, some Krogan mercenaries and others were signing up as a support troops, but he really had no interest in that.

"Wouldn't get anything out of it anyway" the Krogan rumbled to himself, forking a piece of meat into his maw. "On the other hand, I'd probably fight for the Cog If they let me" He scowled, wishing those stubborn Seran's would open up their damn embassy already. When they did that, Wrex had a few ideas to talk about with whoever was in charge.

"Maybe they'll give me a Lancer. That would be pretty cool" the Krogan grunted with a chuckle before going back to his meal.

Serpent Nebula. 10th of Brume. 422 A.E.

Among the swirling gases and elements of the massive nebula, a single rupture in space appeared several million miles away from the Citadel. Slipping out of the swirling vortex of blues and purples, the lone cruiser, Sorrow entered normal space.

Setting forth directly from Sera, the newly constructed Cruiser had been tasked with delivering the new ambassador, his family, staff and a squad of Gears to finally establish the new embassy.

Under the command of a veteran officer that had fought at Oceania, the new ship was already the pride of James Choi.

C.N.V. Sorrow received traffic control pathway from the massive station, the journey slow as the crew diligently piloted the rifle shaped craft through the whisps of gases and commerce. Arriving at their docking port among the outer ring in the next half hour, the Seran's knew there would be a commotion among the reporters and alien community in general.

Still, establishing the embassy was in the Reach Accords and needed to be done. What better time then overseeing the unconditional surrender of the Hegemony?

Descending the ramp, Captain James Choi escorted Ambassador Jonathan Almstead, his wife Zoe, and their five children. Obviously, a four man unit of Gears escorted them all, their helmeted faces blank and passive with lancers rifles carried in a unified march.

The Councilors were there to see them, standing before a line of C-sec officers keeping onlookers away as camera's flashed at the momentous occasion.

Tevos took a step forward, extending her hand to the ambassador. Studying him with a practiced eye, he seemed to be about forty with dirty blonde hair. He was an attractive male with an easy going posture about him. Obviously fit, he wore a dark suit that seemed to compliment his blue eyes.

Of course, Tevos could just look up the dossier about him, a small forewarning from the Coalition and their first ambassador with an alien government. "I was almost positive Diaz would send some grouchy, combat veteran that couldn't talk to a brick wall"

The man took it, a strong clasp as he smiled warmly. "Hello Councilor Tevos" Nodding, he gave smaller greetings to the others present before lowering his hand, his posture instantly changing. "While I'm sure this is a momentous occasion, I would prefer to get this peace treaty with the Hegemony taken care of. The sooner that's done, the sooner my people can throw our full weight at the Caliphate"

"Of course. If you'll allow it, some of our officers can guide your family and Gears to your new home and embassy"

"That would be best for now. There will be plenty of times for tours later. Lead the way"

Tevos forced a smile, her inner thoughts disappointed by the lack of awe of this massive space station. Everybody was charmed by this place during their first visit, but then Seran's could be frustrating at everything.

At least the ambassador's family seemed to be excited.

"Very well, please follow us to the Presidium" Turning, the councilors led the way, presenting a purposeful stride on their home turf…a far cry from Reach months before.

Grand Shan Pod'neb sat quietly, reading over the peace treaty with disdain. It was worse than expected, but continuing the war would be even harsher. Looking up, the Batarian eyed the two Seran's, then the councilors…and finally the Terran ambassador present.

"These terms will ruin the Hegemony…"

"Then don't sign. Just know that the war would instantly continue, and with how badly the state of your remaining fleets are in, your homeworld would soon bear a worse fate that Adek. The choice is yours" Almstead reasoned simply, his normal, friendly gaze gone and replaced with a harshness. "Be thankful that your people have a chance to survive and change. The Coalition is not in the habit of giving this much mercy to our enemies. Unless you prefer to share the same future fate as the Caliphate?"

"But…your taking nearly the whole of the Eastern Hegemony. And the System Alliance is taking Sha'vale and Erdor. This doesn't even cover the loss of our slaves or the reparations we have to pay to the Asari and Coalition"

"Then you shouldn't have started a war with the whole damn galaxy. And frankly, your people deserve this for the atrocities you've committed" Councilor Tevos almost growled out, her fury at the reports of Adek still feeding her anger.

It had been sickening. The images and recordings a nightmare. The coming trials of the slaver merchants, kingpins, and others responsible would be extremely thorough. And she hated herself for thinking this, but a death penalty was the only solution for those monsters.

Pod'neb sighed, knowing there really wasn't much choice in the matter. Continue a losing war and most likely see his home world burn…or deal with the harsh terms.

Signing his name to the electronic tablet, he ended the war with a flourish of a stylus. Watching as the remaining representatives in the room signed as well, the Batarian felt a weight lift from him. "Odds are, I won't even be in charge by next year. This treaty will be somebody else's problem"

Standing up, the defeated alien was about to leave the simple room, taking a copy of the treaty with him when the Seran called out.

"Be warned, Batarian. Wage war against my people again, and Khar'shan will be reduced to ash, I guarantee it" The last words were beyond harsh, born of a species hardened by extreme measures.

Akroy Pod'neb gulped, believing that the Coaltiion would exterminate his people without a second thought if they ever posed a threat again.

"U..understood" walking out at a hurried and brisk pace, the room fell into a moment of silence.

"Well, that's one headache dealt with" Ambassador Almstead mused simply as Tevos stood, intent on gaining the good graces of the Coalition. She needed to get the bad taste of the Batarian atrocities out of her mind, and the calming gardens would help.

"Plus, I doubt I'll get in a shouting match with this man like Diaz during a simple tour of our station. Still, this man is a Seran, bound many the same cultural values"

"Would you still care for a tour of the Presidium, Ambassador?"

"I'm sure it will be enlightening. Of course, Councilor Procus and Junisa may join us, same with Ambassador Kojima"

The Terran looked at her counterpart, studying him. "Your oddly pleasant for a Seran. What, no more insults about Earth and the Alliance?"

A barking laughter erupted from the man. "Not all of us are like the Gears or the Chairman. Hell, most of my people are pretty decent during peacetime. But on the other hand, many have studied the outlying history of Earth and see a very easy path. I'm positive that has solidified their opinion of Terrans, whatever they may be"

The Japanese woman supposed his words were true in a way, the opinion of a whole species couldn't be based on the military or their leadership. Still, they were borderline fascists right now, and many on Earth were deeply worried about that.

At least the Coalition was trying to make an effort with their new neighbors, which was something.

Coalition of Ordered Government's Embassy. Citadel 18th of Brume, 422. A.E.

Air traffic and hovercars zipped by the expansive, large window of his office, their engines a soft, azure glow. Rows of lights set in distant buildings rose in all directions, slowly curving above to the open arms of this massive construction built by a long dead race. The glimmering shields that kept the atmosphere contained gave a soft glow, mixing with the overwhelming beauty of the Serpent Nebula.

Jonathan Almstead had been secretly impressed by the station, but had shown no outwards awe…a small tidbit to annoy Tevos during his initial tour. His wife and children do find it beautiful, but that would fade into normality soon enough.

Clicking his tongue in annoyed thought, the father of five was gravely concerned about the schools here. While he had done his homework and knew they provided a good curriculum, he was deeply concerned about the cultural lessons his youngest would be exposed to. While Marcus and Becca were already teenagers and fully versed in the beliefs of the Octus Canon, his three younger ones would be exposed to the Terrans values, something he didn't like.

"Those damn Earthlings still practice abortions….what a sickening notion"

To his Seran beliefs, willingly destroying a young life was a criminal act with a severe punishment. But Terrans just threw away unwanted young like garbage. For a woman of the Coalition to ask for an abortion, it would have to be the most dire of health risks.

He was going to have to work on halting that with their cousins across the galaxy.

Walking to his desk, it was a clear material with silver looking leg supports and a standard computer sitting idly on the top. Obviously, he had a team of technicians from the C.N.V. Sorrow go over his office from floor to ceiling.

They found at least twenty different listening devices, a housewarming gift from the Salarian's.

Jonathan couldn't even be mad at them for trying. He would've done the exact same thing.

And despite the minor intelligence breech, he had to admit the embassy suited the Cog perfectly. A four story building located near 'Embassy Row' it was evidently much larger than any of the other species, including the System Alliance. Set among a row of uninhabited quarters and larger apartments, the complex had quickly become a fortified parcel of Coalition territory. And while there was no actual gate or wall, the twelve man squad of Gears meant to guard the staff within had rapidly taken their stations at the perimeter or interior halls.

Taking a gaze around his office, Jon knew he would have to decorate, but he already had a meeting today. "Maybe I'll just ask Zoe to do it. She would like that"

The secretary outside chimed the door, quickly opening it. A young woman in her early twenties and emboldened with silky, salmon hair, she stepped aside as a large Krogan walked in.

"Sir. Urdnot Wrex is here to see you"

Almstead gave a small smile, taking his seat as the Krogan walked in, his face sporting a long, vertical scar. The door closed with a soft hiss, giving the silence a pregnant pause.

"So, what can the Coalition do for you?"

"I want to fight for the CoG" Sitting down, the chair was comfortable, something Wrex appreciated.

Jonathan found his voice rough like hewn gravel, but the large alien was being calm and respectful.

"Really? You want me to ask my government. A government who wants to kick those Asari at Reach out into the void to support your lone desire to fight for us? Especially considering the racial aspect of your people's similarities to the Locust and Toads? A similarity that would be uncomfortable at best?"

"I understand your people have faced hardships…just like my own. Extinction, war and suffering, Even the history of our homeworld's traveled a similar path. The only difference is your species managed to climb out of the ashes while mine squabble over rubble. And before you kick me out, I prepared a list of like minded Krogan willing to fight"

Pulling a data tablet, Wrex set it on the desk, sliding it over than promptly crossed his arms, waiting.

Almstead picked it up, his eyes scanning a list of names…a very large list numbering nearly two thousand. "Are all these Krogan from your clan?" Jonathan inquired, his eyes continuing to scroll.

"No, most are from other clans as well"

"And what kinds of financial compensation are you looking for? Or are you just volunteering all these soldiers from the goodness of your heart?"

Wrex smiled, a curl of his lips. "Heh. A comparable pay rate to your Gears is acceptable, but the main payment would be settlement rights on Pandora. A lush, garden world that from what I understand, your government is willing to open to limited Asari colonists in the future"

"That hasn't been confirmed yet…officially. But with the Hegemony defeated, colonization efforts may be started there sometime this year…possibly. And while I'm sure the Chairman would greatly love to see that world as a Coalition bastion, it will become a center of trade between the galaxy and my people. To deny even that fact would be foolish. I bet within ten years, Pandora will have a thriving colony of multiple species, eager to gain wealth from trade or simply starting fresh"

"My thoughts exactly. Unless your navy plans on blowing every damn ship out of the sky that shows up there"

"Oh, make no mistake. The Pandora Relay will probably become one of the most fortified and guarded relays in the galaxy" Tapping the data pad, Jonathan could feel himself nodding. The Krogan were excellent infantry, and while small, two battalion's worth would be welcome for the war effort.

"I make no promises, but I'll push this proposal to the Chairman and her ministers. If it's approved or denied, you'll be made aware"

"That's all I ask. But even if denied, there is a serious question I have" Leaning forward, Urdnot Wrex grinned as the Seran locked eyes with him. "Can I have a Lancer?"

Ten light years from the Bo'link System. 1st of Storm, 423 A.E.

Fleetmaster Tril'va stood at the tactical table, the humid air of his flagship Nesha'tov slick and warm. His fleet, along with the rebuilt and replenished 5th fleet hung in the nebula cloud, hidden from sensors. Numbering nearly sixteen hundred warships, many had been hastily constructed, others reporting technical and hardware issues, but for all intents and purposes, they could fight. Supporting them was the loaded fist of sacrifice, two thousand corvettes eager to show their god their bravery and honor.

It was a massive gathering of military might, nearly gutting the whole offensive arm. Only the newly constructed 6th fleet and 3rd under Bo'klar remained among the sacred worlds as the 2nd was barely a write off. The military planned on rebuilding that fleet, but it would take time. The 1st orbited the homeworld, not daring to risk movement and under the direct control of the church.

Still, this operation was beyond foolish. A waste of resources, lives, and time. But the moment Supreme Priest Y'larv had become aware of the full strength status of his fleets, he ordered a full counter-attack to retake Bo'link and liberated it.

"We should stay on the defensive, not liberating an empty world. But If I were to question the church…" the Fleetmaster glanced over toward Van'lik, the religious leader reading a report in his newly fashioned chair. His personal guards stood behind him, rifles ready to slay any he deemed unworthy of fighting for their god.

The holy priest looked up, locking yellow eyes with a curl of his pale, green lips. "Is there an issue, Fleetmaster?"

"No. I was simply studying the lines of assault"

"Good, then if there is no issue, launch this glorious effort of retribution against the vermin scourge! All ships are to begin the attack immediately!"

The word of the church was the word of god, and the order was carried out among thirty eight hundred vessels eager for battle against the hated Coalition.

With their engines glowing a bright green, the fleets burst into FTL, heading into the churning gears of war.

2162 C.E.

Codex Update: Treaty of Adek

Article One: All slaves are to be liberated and returned to their homeworlds.

Article Two: Slavery is illegal in Hegemony space. Those participating in its acts will face capital level punishments.

Subsection One: All Slave traders, merchants and officials in support of slavery will be tried and arrested for 'crimes against sentience'

Article Three: Reparations will be paid to the Coalition for twenty years in the weight of products or raw materials

Article Four: Reparations will be paid to the Asari Republics for one hundred years. Failure to comply will result in military action by the full might of the Citadel.

Article Five: The Hegemony will be allowed to maintain a total fleet count of 3,500 hundred naval vessels. Only one Dreadnaught will be permitted per fleet.

Article Six: The caste system will be abolished. Democratic reforms will be implemented in steps over the next twenty years.

Article Seven: Adek, Boto-shik and the Eastern Hegemony will be formed into a new stellar nation within ten years.

Subsection One: Coalition and Council vessels will have full access to the Eastern Hegemony, including investments, trade, industry and settlement of undiscovered worlds.

Subsection Two: Omega will retain their independence so long as all piracy ceases immediately. Failure to comply will result in forceful change of leadership and military action.

Subsection Three: The System Alliance will retain a full claim of Sha'vale and Erdor along with seized satellite systems.

Subsection Four: Venrak'sha will be claimed by the Turian Hierarchy.

Article Eight: The Batarian Hegemony will be subject to inspection by Citadel or Coalition inspectors at any time, including Spectre's to ensure treaty compliance.

Phew! I really knocked out like half this chapter in the last two days! Went completely nuts with writing! But anyway, I really hope you faithful readers enjoy this chapter! Next one will obviously be more war, fully focusing on those damned Toads.

And if you complain about how the Batarians never won a battle, canon wise they're pretty inept and corrupt. Also, the invasion of Adek was justified just for freeing all the Asari slaves. Simply burning the planet was an option, but a pretty bad one and unnecessary one in my opinion. And yes…it was that Saren Arterius haha. Hopefully his viewpoints will change over time?

Anyway, once again, thank you all for reading!

Also, I have finished my first story, Dragon of the Cog so if you want to check out the last chapters, feel free! Nest up, SHIFTING!

Coalition Squadron layouts and command structure.

Squadron strength approximately 240-260 ships (Including supply and support craft)

Flagship Battleship or Dreadnaught. Typically under the command of a Rear Admiral or Commander

Fourteen Battlecruiser sections. Average command strength twelve to sixteen Destroyers. Destroyers are usually commanded by Lieutenants.

Four to Six Cruisers. Each Cruiser is in command of two Battle cruiser sections. Usually under a Captain or Lieutenant Commander