Xcom Effect Ch 4

Hi everyone.

Imageveiwer back to you again with an update on my Mass Effect Fic, The Star Union.

Thankfully the issue with fanfiction has finally been sorted.

I've no new news for you, other then the status of my current fics that will be listed at the end of the chapter.

For anyone who wants to follow my progress on what I am currently working on, follow me on P-ton.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the fic and hope all of you had a merry Christmas.

Without further ado, I give you.

The Star Union.

Chapter 4: The prelude of a legend.

-Digerus, Resistance Base Omega-

One of the remaining holdouts of the Turian's resistance.

Comprised primarily of soldiers not captured and civilian volunteers.

This base was imbedded deep within the snow mountains of the Northern Hemisphere of the planet. The Icy tundra and harsh weather gave a natural defence against the invading forces of the star union, who had yet to uncover this holdout as they did the others.

Steep and jagged peeks and mounds made it impossible for tire based vehicles to manoeuvre through the traitorous passes and sharp teeth of the icy spires growing from the landscape.

More and more resistance fighters came day by day, from the fallen resistance holds and captured colonies.

Omega base became something of a headquarters to the Turian Resistance, all manner of resources pulled from outposts and military bases were unloaded into this base.

Turian engineers worked day by day and hour by hour to set up the defences, and infrastructure of the base's interior. While outside, defence turrets and trenches were dug out for the possible assault that was becoming more, and more real as the days turned into weeks.

And the other hold outs south of its position was lost.

Reports from survivors making their pilgrimage to what was dubbed the last bastion of Resistance for their world.

Inside, commanders were few in number since the conquering of their world and the assault on their encampments and outposts.

Not a General among them, as the commanding General of the planetary defence was captured in the first wave and all other high ranking commanders after that.

Leaving only colonels and ranks below them to govern.

Indeed, the Turian people have never faced an adversary with such strength and technology that outmatched them completely.

The enemy force pushed over them like a tsunami relentlessly washing over their fortifications and battle strategies like a restless storm.

Never before had the Turians been pushed to such limits.

The invasion of Digeris was a testament to the invaders military might against the Turians.

Inside the command centre, several Turian commanders gathered around a table that presented a holographic replication of the planet.

"What is the latest report on the outer outposts?" inquired the acting commander of the Turian Resistance, the newly instated Colonel, Adrian Victus.

As the only high ranking individual left and thanks in part to his recent string of military success in coordinating guerrilla strikes and resistance forces around the planet. He was elevating unofficially to the Rank of General despite being a colonel amongst other commanders.

He stood with other captains and commanders from what was left of the Planet's fighting force.

"they've gone silent approximately half a rotation ago." one of the Turian technicians reported, monitoring their resistance comn channels. "We've only just now received through our limited relay's the communications from the other outposts. Resistance cells and refugee are reporting enemy movement, steadily encroaching in this direction." he said, the Turian patrols on the outer outposts and resistance divisions close to the invader captured cities and bases.

The Turians were forced to use pre-space age relay towers to communicate with each other. The relays were physically connected via cords and short wave bursts that travelled from outpost to outpost, relaying one message from one outpost to another until it reached its intended destination.

Although rudimentary and old, it was effective, and it provided them with solid communication link since their network was taken down.

However Colonel Adrian was pulled from his command by the appearance of a young technician that came up to him "Commander. A moment of your time." the Turian engineer saluted as she requested a moment of his attention.

She was nimble framed compared to the male Turians of their species, with slicker physic that often made them appear petite and more thinner than their male counterparts.

While any other commander would have dismissed such a request in the heat of coordinating a planetary siege that required their constant focus. Colonel Adrian did not, he was known as an officer that listened to everyone of his subordinates...a rare and admirable quality amongst the Turian leadership. "Please speak. What is it that you've want to bring to my attention?" he asked, drawing his attention away from the war table as he followed after the young technician led him away.

She turned and spoke in a low whisper that only the both of them could hear. "I didn't dare say this in front of the others. But I believe our position has been compromised...I think we have a spy in our midst." she said, and immediately Adrian focused all of his attention to the young Turian.

Adrian stared at her with a critical gaze "...are you sure?" he asked in whisper so that only she could hear him.

The engineer nodded with a serious expression of her own as she met his gaze with an unflinching waver in her composure "I've been monitoring ingoing and outgoing transmission traffic between us and the outposts. And I've been noticing a certain pattern." she said, bringing up her omni-tool as she transmitted her evidence that came in the form of data packages displayed in bursts of signals that the engineer has been collecting for weeks in her repot.

"Transmissions going through to an unrecognised channel." she pointed out, letting her commander translate the information as he began to see what she was seeing, translating the data and seeing the pattern that raised even his eyebrows.

"...do you think its one ours?" commander Adrian, asked, but knew initially that it wasn't, otherwise the technician wouldn't have brought it to his attention.

"No sir. That channel is not apart of the Turian nor part of any of the council species emergency channels. In fact, its not even one of ours...I think it's the enemy's." the technician answered, who was hard at work to try and make sense of her discovery.

Commander Adrian just stared, it was one bad new after another. They had already lost the planet, what amount of resistance they put up was being snuffed out day by day.

The outposts and rebel cells on the outer boarder were the defence and alarm to how far the invader's were closing in.

If this discovery was indeed the mark of a spy and a traitor...then it was imperative to weed out this threat to their very survival. "...not of word of this until we get to the bottom of this. I want you to locate the source of these transmissions and alert me immediately as soon as you learn where they are." Adrian said before returning back into the centre of the other officers who were drawing up battleplans in his absence.

-After the meeting-

Minutes later, after everyone had left, leaving only Adrian and the technician alone in the command centre, the resistance General had summoned two Turian officers into the command room.

Commander Victus did not need to know who had entered when he heard the doors to his command centre open, shortly after the other officers had left. Without turning, he addressed them "I thank you two for coming in on such short notice." he turned around, and looked the two Turians he knew he could rely upon.

Captain Nihlus and lieutenant Saren saluted Adrian and stood at attention "Commander-" only to but short by the Turian who waved off their respectful salute.

"Please don't call me that Saren. I'm still trying to adjust into the position I'm in." Commander Victus sighed, the burden of ensuring the survival of his men and people from the enemy invading this world was heavy upon him. He looked at the two before him, with a look he reserves for his men under his command, despite the two being his closest friends "What I'm about to say, does not leave this room."

He said in serious tone, causing the two Turians to immediately adopt the discipline and attention of soldiers.

Commander Victus Turned and pointed to the only other Turian in the room present with him, she had not once stopped as she continued to work at the terminal as he spoke "Technician Thayra has informed me of an anomaly that she's been following since the start of the invasion. Transmissions going out to an unspecified source that we believe belongs to the enemy."

Their reactions was expected "A breach!? Have we been able to locate the source?" Nihlus questioned, breaking his stance as appeared ready to leap out at anyone his commander would point at.

Even Saren looked ready to jump into action at the command.

"No. And its local, meaning...we have insider within our ranks." Commander Victus said with a stern tone, watching their reactions as he quickly labelled them out as primary suspects.

The reaction was predictable, with only Saren voicing his disbelief "A traitor!? A traitor sending our intel to the enemy!?" anger flared within the Turian, whose face scrunched up in absolute furry with his mandibles twitching.

Commander Victus kept his composer, although he too shared in Saren feelings on this.

But he needed to keep a calm and collect mind which was essential to coordinate with the other outposts on the frontier. "We have to assume the worst. Our outer outposts are going dark, and we are only receiving scrambled transmissions. The enemy is coming right to our doors."

"How can we help?" Nihlus stepped forward, he bared a narrow concentrated glare, soon joined by Saren who stood beside his comrade.

"I need you two to investigate this matter. Thayra here, will help you." he said, pointing to the female technician who had yet to stop in her work. "I'm needed at sector 9, to organise our frontal defences, I'll be leaving this all to the two of you."

"consider it done sir." Saren said, giving him a salute which the Turian did in kind to the both of them.

"Thanks. I counting on you two to discover the truth to all of this." he said, before leaving as he exited out through the doors to the command centre.

Once the doors were shut, both Saren and Nihlus relaxed their stances and moved towards the command terminal which projected a holographic representation of their planet.

This war was unwinnable, the majority of the planet had been taken, an enemy armada was in orbit, supplying the invasion army on the planet surface as well as providing orbital support with precision strikes and ariel support.

Although both men were trained for this, the inevitable possibility of war, this entire thing was unlike anything their training could ever prepare them for. The soul crushing weight of everything as they tried to saved their people and repel the invaders, bared down upon them.

"so, where do we begin?" Nihlus asked, looking to Saren who had his gaze on the projected overview of their planet and much they had lost.

Saren turned his gaze away from the project to look to his friend. "That's the question isn't it. We don't know where these transmissions are outsourcing from. It could be anywhere?"

They didn't know where to begin with their search for the traitor.

But as they tried to think of how to find this breach on their security, Nihlus noticed something from the corner of his eye.

"hey!? Was that terminal always on?" he asked, pointing directly to the unused terminal on the far side of the room, it wasn't being used and yet the display showed that there actions being taken remotely.

Saren moved in close before his face went through a series of different expressions, starting from confusion to shock and horror and finally to focused discipline as he turned to his comrade and hissed in a low voice.

"Someone's been listening in... Somewhere really close." both Nihlus and Saren turned towards the doors. Without a moments hesitation, both Turians stormed towards the doors and opened them, looking left and right down the halls until they spotted a figure, huddle behind the beam.

The being noticed them before they broke off in a mad dash in the other direction.

"hey! You there, stop!" Nihlus commanded, but the fleeing figure ignored his words as he and Saren gave chase.

The two Turians sprinted after their target who was keeping a distance from them, enough to lose them if he turned in a corner, but not enough where they were able to make out the structure of the figure and the armour that they wore...it was a Turian!

The pointed thin avian legs that carried them through the halls and the elongated helmet was a dead give away that the person they were chasing belonged to their own people.

As the chase ensued, the fleeing Turian took a sharp turn, followed closely behind by Saren and Nihlus who mentally mapped out where the destination this mysterious figure was heading towards.

"He's heading towards the section 3. You cut him at the west hall, I'll continue to follow!" Saren ordered, continuing to chase after him while Nihlus broke off and went in different direction.

Saren put all of his will and energy into keeping pace rather then closing the distance as he aimed to trapped the runner with Nihlus.

His three pronged fingers latched onto the heavy pistol he had hooked on his side and pulled it free, having it on hand as he prepared to arrest the fleeing Turian.

The mysterious Turian turned around into a hallway that Saren knew Nihlus would be waiting at the end of, following after him, Saren prepared as he immediately saw a Turian and hoisted his gun up-

"hold, its me!" Nihlus shouted, showing his hands up in a sign of surrender while in his hand he held his own pistol.

Saren relaxed his body as his mind quickly processed who was standing before him. However, he did not have time to greet his friend as he was still on the hunt "Did you see him run past you?" Saren asked, there was no way the Turian he was chasing could've slipped by him.

Nihlus would've noticed, he was trained for covert operation as an infiltrator, he had a stealth field and knew when someone who used similar infiltration techniques.

Nihlus shook his head "No...he could've gone in the mess." he said, pointing to the door on their left that was the only way past them.

The both of them approached, weapons held at the ready, Nihlus opened the sealed doors with his omni-tool, before he and Saren took a step forward, only to stop at what they saw.

"We have a problem...a big problem. The only people I see here...are our people."

More than few dozen Turians filled the entire chamber, eating together. From conscripted Militia ia and volunteers to actual soldiers and re-instated war veterans.

Even to their eyes, every man and woman in here was another face that would not be so easily distinguished from the mass that congregated together.

-a few minutes later-

The two Turians reconvened back in the command centre, tensions were high and emotions were

"...I still can't believe...I don't want to believe it!" Saren growled, his face contorted into expression of anger and betrayal, he could not understand or even think to comprehend why one of their own people would become a turncoat.

"Believe it alright. We have a traitor in our ranks. Likely one of the civi's we saw in the mess." Nihlus was there, though he was more level headed compared his comrade and fellow Turian, Saren.

"Not likely. That Turian was wearing Armor, and not the scrounged or outdated models we're giving to our volunteer militia." Saren rebuffed his friend's theory, meaning that they're possible traitor was someone from the military garrison.

Their conversation was interrupted by the technician assigned to them "lieutenants?" Thayla called to them, not moving from her console as she worked on deciphering the signals she found.

"What is it corporal?" Nihlus asked, as he and Saren moved over to her.

"i believe I may have found something." she said, handing them a data pad she uploaded her findings on.

"what is it?" Saren asked, as Nihlus looked at her findings, seeing the information that would help them in their search for the mole.

"Trayer has found our first clue to identifying our leak. See this, the pattern of the transmissions. You normally wouldn't notice it, but the dates they've been transmitting are weekly. See, its there. And only one location has been connected to it." he handed the data pad to Saren, waiting as the Turian saw what he saw.

His eye's widening as he saw the origin of the source "That's...that's Salotina's barracks?!" he exclaimed, staring at the data right in front of him. Its source of origin indicating that it was coming from one specific area in the entire base.

He only knew Salotina through brief interactions with the other officers and several missions where they met up in the battlefield. She was an prime example of diligent Turian soldier, she always bolstered the moral of the troops around her with words of encouragement that seemed to wash away the darkness that surrounded them...it was truly inspiring.

Saren and Nihlus both agree that Salotina was the perfect example of proud Turian Female. A daughter of Palavan who would lay down her life for her people and their honour.

A value that made her more... desirable as a partner to bare future offsprings with.

But it was also that same conviction and strong loyalty to her people and her unit that also made her frightening to broach any subject of treason or cowardice against her and her men as she took such accusations very seriously.

"yeah...Salotina's not going to like this."

The two knew what would happen, but they needed to get to the bottom of this quickly before their spy had a chance to escape.

-Barracks 22-B.-

It was only natural when Saren and Nihlus confronted the squad's commander, that her reaction would be one of dismissal and complete angered rejection at the notion that someone from her squad was a traitor. "No way! No WAY! My men are best. There's no way, they'll do something like this!" Sargent Salotina Vax of the 8th legion, defended her squad's integrity over the accusation of treason within her ranks.

She glared at the two commanding officers for even bringing something that although she knew to be logical, just wasn't morally right to her. She fought with these men, they were more then just soldiers to her.

And both Saren and Nihlus knew this when they brought this to her. Every Turian was trained and served with their squad that became more than simply a collection of faces they trusted. They were brothers, each and every soldier they fought with, bled with and ate with, was a brother they trusted their life to.

"Something like what?" a new voice entered, as all three turned to see Salotina's entire squad entering into the barracks.

Salotina was surprised to see them, but was quick to understand that they were not here by chance "you called them here?!" she rounded on the two Turians.

Saren responded with a hardened tone, as stared at each "Of course we did. I aim to get to the bottom of this. Now!" he hissed out, not once

Nihlus walked forward, passing by the ranks of men that stood at attention before a superior officer "Have a seat gentleman." he ordered in a softer tone.

Complying with his orders, all of them found places to sit and awaited to know what it was that had two to say.

Sargent Salotina stepped forward towards Saren with a concerned expression on her face.

Grabbing him gently by the arm as he moved to join Nihlus, she whispered to him as to not have her men hear her "Please. Let me have a moment with them. They trust each other, and if one of our own betrayed us-"

Saren shrugged her off and met her gaze with a hard stare "I don't think that's necessary. Your men are tough, right?" he then joined Nihlus as he looked at the assembled with judging stare "I won't lie to you. We have reason to believe that someone within this room...is a traitor." that word had its affect and a universal shifting of emotions, and thoughts exploded.

The room became tense, worried, conflicted and suspicious glares married the faces of the squad men as they sat down and looked to each other with concerned, suspicious and scrutinising expressions.

Shocked and otherwise in disbelief that one of them was a turncoat.

Nihlus once again took over, as he stepped forward and addressed them "We're going to ask you where you were at the time between the hours of 1700 and 1900 today." he specified the time of when they discovered the presence of the traitor to now.

Both he and Saren approached the Turian solider seated far from the rest of his comrades, "You, where were you during this time?" he asked the youngest solider of the squad, who appeared to be fresh from the academy or pulled out early before his graduation.

He sweated and appeared nervous, clasping his hands together as an obvious sign of anxiety "i...uh, I don't know. I was doing the things I always do after a mission." he didn't meet their gazes, as he averted his eyes to the ground or to his hands.

"Things like what?" Nihlus pushed for an answer from the twitchy solider who only got more gittery.

"I'm sorry, sir..." he said, looking up at Nihlus and Saren with a panicked expression, everything about him screamed greenhorn to the two experienced soldiers, but they couldn't take any chances. "I'm just a little nervous... You are my CO." he explained.

"The way I see it, you tell us the truth, you got nothing to be nervous about." Saren hardened himself against the rookie's anxiety, he had no time to placate to his baser urges of compassion and understanding.

They needed to focus on identifying and eliminating this threat within their ranks.

In his head, Saren justified his actions to be harsh and unrelenting as a necessary evil to protect his people. While Nihlus may try to play peacekeeper, war has no need for diplomats. They needed soldiers willing to do whatever it takes to win the war.

"Cassius is telling the truth." one of his squamates spoke up for him, confirming his story as Nihlus and Saren turned to face him "Cleans his gun after every mission. First thing, every time. Helps to calms his nerves." the soldier said, vouching for the young recruit in their squad.

Turning back to the rookie "is that true. Do you clean you're weapon often?" Nihlus asked, taking over in the questioning.

"yes sir." he said abruptly, speaking like a trainee in boot camp before his drill instructor.

"Did you go onto the terminal while you were in here?" he asked, pointing to the only console in their barracks.

"No sir. I never even powered it up. You can check my key logs." the solider said, reaching into his pouch and handing them his key slip, it was simple and rudimentary data card. They were using pre-omni tool computers, that used physical log in cards to gain access.

Since the start of the invasion, they were forced to scavenge and salvage anything they could use, even old tech from an age before the citadel asked them to join. It was primitive but effective, as each card was coded to the soldier's ID and login code.

This would narrow down the search for their traitor, as they'd have to log in their own personal key card into the terminal.

The both of them shared a look as Nihlus pocketed the card, before Saren turned back to rookie "...show me your weapon." the Turian handed him his assault rifle.

Saren looked it over, seeing the fresh polish and barely a hint of blemish upon the surface of the weapon's frame "yep, freshly scrubbed." Saren confirmed, as he traced his three pronged fingers against the body of the rifle before handing it back to him.

"The rag and oil I used are over there in the corner." the solider pointed to the shelves containing all sorts of equipment the squad used to maintain their armour and gear.

"Good man." Nihlus congratulated him before turning to the other soldiers right near them and all sitting along the same bed, he asked the one nearest to them, sitting on the lock box at the end of the bed.

"You? You were cleaning your weapon too?" he asked, directing his question to the one who vouched for the young rookie as he and Saren started their tactics in weeding out the rest from the traitor that was likely amongst them.

"No, I-I was hungry. I went straight to the mess." he answered with a bit of a stutter, it wasn't a good alibi. As their spy/ traitor ran right into the mess hall, where thousands of civilians and soldiers were grouped together.

"Anyone with you?" they prodded, looking for an alibi that has holes in it to judge which of the men in the room with them was the potential leak.

"Lacanius sir." he gestured to the Turian that sat right next to him, he bore the facial marking of Palavan, their home world.

Said Turian shifted in his seat as their attention was direct to them "We both went to the mess, sat down and ate together." he vouched for them, putting the both of them at the mess hall at the same time... Or so they claimed, even if they weren't the traitor, both Nihlus and Saren didn't want to let them know if it was only one traitor or more within the ranks.

"Anyone there to collaborate what you two are saying?" Saren pushed, looking for a hole in their story.

"Arc squadron. We met up with them. Ask any of them." Lacinius answered, putting him and the other Turian into contact with others at the time of their runaway.

Arc Squadron was known but not famous, they were the only squadron that survived the first battle for the planet in the Turian's only Victory against the invader's first attempted invasion.

They had their own separate barracks from the civilians and Militia ia , everyone knew where they were. They were practically Heroes, as they took on daring missions during the current invasion of their world, utilising hit and run blitz attacks on the enemies installations and supply chains of the enemies encroaching armies.

"oh, we will." Saren drawled out, giving them a long hard stare as he walked past them.

Sargent Salotina tried to intervene again, pleading out to them as they grilled her unit "Lieutenant. Please, give me just a moment with them-"

"no its okay sarge. I've got nothing to hide." the fourth member of their squad cut her off. "I was in the infirmary." he pointed to his bandaged arm "The medics was patching me after the skirmish with the enemy on that salvage op" Nihlus reached and inspected the bandaged wrapped limb "Doc's got all the records."

Letting go of his arm, Nihlus looked towards Saren and nodded in confirming the soldier's story. He was clear of suspicion as the Turian they were looking for didn't have a wound, and if the medic collaborated with his story, then he was innocent.

They moved onto the final member of the squad, who laid on his bunk, far away from the others. "so, Talius, old boy. What's your alibi?" they asked, the final man of the squad who was a well-known recluse and anti-authoritarian solider drafted from the Militia. He is skilled but not all that well liked by his fellow Turians because of his renegade attitude.

Even now his alouth nature reared its head at this dire time "I was in the mess hall-" he was saying in board tone before he was interrupted

"No you weren't!" one of the Turians that was questioned earlier jumped up and rebuked Talius's statement, until he realised that he was now in the spot-light with everyone looking at him for answers. "I mean- uh-"

"If you know something kid. You should speak up?" Nihlus urged him to continue from his accusation, they needed to filter out any alibi's as to where everyone was, and they found a possible lead.

"...Talius came in...a lot later. After everyone else." he clarified, explaining that the last member of their squad arrived possibly around the time Nihlus and Saren discovered the spy outside the command centre.

All eye's were directed towards Talius, who knew he was in hot water, especially as the two Commanding officer's leered down at him with looks that made him feel like a child caught doing a crime.

"alright, I'll ask again. Where were you before you went to the mess then?" Saren pressed for an answer, his face contorting into scathing glare as he stared down the shifty Turian below him.

"no where." Talius avoided the question and averted his eyes away, casting a dark light upon himself as everyone stared at him with growing suspicion.

"you know we need a better answer then that? Your not helping your case by dodging the question." Nihlus explained, crossing his arms as he looked down at the Turian, urging him to come out with what he was hiding.

Tarius sighed, knowing he couldn't keep it up forever and it was bound to get found out eventually "...Alright. I was hiding...by the south hall." he then reached into one of his pouches and produced what it was that he was hiding "I didn't want anyone to see me string these together." what he pulled out, caused many eyes to widen before narrowing in distain and disgust.

"Turian battle tags." Saren commented, seeing the tags of fallen brothers and sisters in arms, all tied together in a single thread. He shared a look with Nihlus before addressing the renegade in the ranks "Why do you have them?!" he asked, as to why he had them and didn't report them in.

This was more then just contraband.

These battle tags were a means to confirm Turians who were killed in action when their bodies could not be recovered. These were the only means in which the Turian government can acknowledge Turians who were Kia from the uncountable number of soldiers who died on distant worlds or the middle of warzones, it also helped to give the families of the deceased some semblance of closer in knowing that their loved ones were truly dead and not missing.

By hiding this, Talius subverted the rules and regulations of reporting fallen comrades, he prevented Turian command from confirming the deaths of its soldiers and causing

With this, Talius's indifferent mask broke, and a look of confliction and pain came upon him "I just...I wanted to bring something back to their families! I- I felt like I owed it to them, to give their loved ones some closure." he stated. Pushing himself further into the bed as he held the jiggling tags that bared the rank and ID's of fallen Turians.

However, this did little temper the distrust his comrade's had towards him, as they stood up and glared at him with great mistrust "I always knew there was something wrong about you!" one of them spat out, looking at him as though he was an ugly stain upon them.

At this, Sargent Salotina took over, her tone matching the emotions of her squad as she dressed him down "This isn't good Talius. Lying about where you were. Not reporting items taken from a battle field!" she listed off the things that could get him court martialled.

"I know..." he said, stilling holding that attitude as he kept his eye's averted from them all.

Salotina continued to dress him down, no longer holding back the scorn or anger she kept bottled up. "I've put up with your attitude because you have skill. But if you can break these rules. Not following in the chain command. Your whole character is in question!" she pointed at him with utter contempt and distrust.

Talius was immediately startled, realising how this looks on him. "No wait! Hang on, I'm no Traitor!" Talius jumped, trying to claim his innocence before everyone that now looked at him as though he was the Traitor they were after. His actions, painting him in a bad picture as he broke one of the core fundamentals of their military

"Talius, we're brothers in this. But how can we trust anything you have say now?" Nihlus asked, as he moved around to address the soldier that was now in the spotlight of everyone scrutiny.

"No sir! I am not-!?"

Whatever else he was about to say was cut off by his Sargent, laying her talons on his shoulder as she tried to reassure him "It's okay Talius. I'll get you a proper investigation. You don't have to say anything until the commander Victus comes back to talk to you." but this only caused both senior officers to narrow their eye's right before the cornered soldier exploded and turned on his commander.

"Maybe you should talk sir! Tell them where you went!" Talius shoved her hand off of his shoulder "I was in the south exit remember!? I saw you go in sir, I saw you!" he growled, pointing his talon right into her face.

"Talius. I have been patien-!" Sargent Salotina tried to speak out but was cut off by her subordinate pressing on with information he was yelling out to clear himself and revealed the information on the last member of the squad both men had yet to gather.

"Everyone turn right, towards the barracks and the mess! YOU, turn left towards the command centre." he narrated the entire squad's positions, including hers as he cornered her against the other bunks opposite his "Where were you going sir?" he asked, glaring at her hatefully.

Vax tried to put some space between the two of them, while trying not to look nervous "O-Obviously the kid feels cornered."

"Sargent. What did you mean by the commander coming back?" Nihlus questioned as he approached them, Saren not far behind as he blocked the path behind Nihlus in the narrow passage between the bunk beds "How did you even know, that Commander Victus was gone?" everyone now looked at her, the two commander's and even her own squad who stared at her with scrutinizing glares that demanded answers.

Salotina Just stood there...her face adopting a frightened expression...but it soon began to drop. Not metaphorically but literally, much to everyone's shock and horror as half of her face drooped down like melted cheese.

And through it all, they heard her speak but in a distorted tone that rumbled with reverberating noise of monster "...I really wish you hadn't noticed that Sir." she then thrusted her hand out, it stretched and transformed into a three pronged mesh of gelatinousness goop.

It hit Nihlus and Saren dead on, slamming them into the other side of the barracks before it swiped and sent the rest of the Turian squad flying before it retracted back and transformed into a slim taloned limb. It reared its other elbow back, slamming into the face of the stunned Talius, sending him to the ground before it leaped through the gap between bunks!

It landed into a roll, but its form rippled yet still maintained the guise it wore as it sprinted out of there, just in time as Nihlus and Saren got to their feet and saw it escape.

"Its Salotina!?" Saren spat out a gob of blood as he bared the full brunt of the alien's attack, cushioning Nihlus as the later was in front of him when the alien struck. Nihlus running ahead him as they gave chase "Salotina's the traitor!?".

They were in fight mode, they didn't have time to comprehend what kind of monster they were up against.

-With the fake Salotina-

The fake Salotina ran as fast as her form would allow. She cursed herself for her moment of weakness in exposing her true form so openly.

She alerted them to her presence!

It took her a great amount of effort to blend in with the natives of this world, finding an appropriate form that aided in mingling with the enemy forces as she played the role of the heroic and respected company officer.

Which in itself was hard, given that she needed to lead them against her empire in the skirmishes that hindered the assault of the star union upon this world.

Not to mention the difficulty of maintaining such a form, the slightest

She knew her position here was compromised, as the base's alarm blared and the intercom screamed to life the voice of her chasers. "Attention all units. The base is in lock down, effective immediately! No one is to leave or enter the facility. We have a alien infiltrator within the compound. If you see Sargent Salotina Shoot her on sight! I repeat, shoot Salotina on sight!"

Salotina knew she was screwed, this form...had played its part, but she needed a new one, fast and a plan to get out of this base.

Unfortunately transforming took time to get every inch and detail correct about the guise she was going to take.

She ran through the halls, avoiding the patrols of troops that charged through the halls in groups, it was going to be hard to isolate a lone Turian and take their form.

She was running out of ideas and places to hide as she found herself in a familiar hall. An idea popped into her head on how she can buy time.

-With Saren and Nihlus-

Saren and Nihlus re-entered the command centre. Guns drawn as they slowly entered the vast room that was only occupied by the two of them. However...upon entering, they were struck by the sight of their equipment destroyed.

Consoles that managed everything from power, communications and defence were smashed, slashed and sabotaged in every way possible...they foe had been here recently...or was still here...

Guards were raised, and awareness were heightened as they searched for their mysterious infiltrator. Nihlus broke the silence as they cautiously walked around "okay. Pretend your this...whatever it is that we're hunting. What would be going through your mind at this point?" he asked Saren who had yet to lower his guard as he moved around the large map table opposite his squad mate.

Grunting, Saren answered with his mind putting himself In a position of the creature they were hunting "My cover's blown, its time to go...but I can't use any of the vehicles because its too obvious. Hangers on lock down, and my face is known." he deduced, his military training that honed his mind and instincts, also instilled in him special training for tactics if he ever infiltrated or reconned a potential enemy base.

This new foe they were hunting changed everything they know about reconnaissance and infiltration. This...creature did not use any holographic device to disguise itself...it could shapeshift and perfectly mimic the body and voice of Sargent Vax!….It was terrifying thought to think about. As this alien could've been with them for who knows how long...probably before the start of the invasion.

Another terrifying fact...if there was one, then there could be more amongst their ranks.

Half of their people could be shapeshifters!?

Nihlus chimed in as he continued from where Saren left off "They'll be checking everyone that I can possibly disguise as. So I need a way past the lock down..." he trailed off, his eye's finding something that shouldn't be there. There lying on the ground was a singular large console, as tall as they were, it was separate from the rest of the consoles that were either stuck to the wall or ripped from them.

But what made it stand out was the fact, out of all of the other equipment that they saw, It was the only one that remained otherwise undamaged.

Nihlus caught Saren's eye, the two of them having a quick and silent conversation, neither giving any indication that they knew and only continued to act with Saren suddenly getting an idea "That's it! Its trying to get past the lockdown!" he said, as he walked to the console, he wasn't going to the jump the gun and shoot at the console.

They knew their adversary was here, the damage was fresh, and they needed to draw it out, acting oblivious they baited the shapeshifter with the knowledge it needed to act.

"How!?" Nihlus asked as he joined Saren near the inactive holographic table within the command centre "All of the exits are blocked, and we've given everyone strict orders not allow any one in or out of the base without our command." a truth, as Saren and Nihlus were the only ones who had the authority to end the lock down, a fact that they hoped their foe would catch onto.

Saren looked like he was struck with an idea "I know how its going to get past us. It going to wait and hide until we give the all clear. We don't even know the full extent of its shapeshifting abilities." he said laying his rifle on the table, in full view of anyone watching.

Nihlus picked up on the secret message, signalling back to Saren on his part of their trap "Alright, I will grab some men a begin a full investigation of the entire base." he said, moving towards the door while trying to keeping an eye on intact terminal that his trained instincts were screaming towards

"And I'll stay here. Try to get to get things in working order." Saren confirmed, turning back towards Nihlus as he focused on the

"Good Idea. We need our defences back up." Nihlus, leaving the room, but just as he was out of sight, he activated his cloaking field and quickly ran back in before the doors sealed.

There, he ghosted Saren, watching and waiting until finally their foe appeared.

Just as they'd guested originally, the metal console on the floor began to move, its form breaking apart as one gelatinous arm split with three long prong talons from the main body.

Nihlus got a good look at the thing, his body cam picking up the feed of the creature shifting into its true form before taking on the familiar appearance of Salotina as it silently kept up behind Saren.

Taking his gun, the alien crept up behind Saren with his own weapon levelled at the back of his head "Hey there, Vax" Saren addressed the alien in a casual manner, smiling before he lifted into view, the firing mechanism for his weapon "That won't work." the rifle was useless, without the part Saren had in his hand, it was nothing more than a paper weight.

And unfortunately for the alien, it felt the cold barrel of another gun pressed against its own head, right before Nihlus's cloaking field dissipated to reveal that he was still there the whole time.

"You knew I was here!" the alien infiltrator growled, it wore Salotina's face perfectly to the point where her face mirrored its frustration and fury.

Saren snatched the gun of out its talon's, inserting the missing piece and it levelled it at the shapeshifter. Both Turian officers now had the faceless trapped between them, their finger's ready to pull the trigger at a moment's notice.

"Of course we did. We knew you couldn't have gotten far with all of the damage you caused. All we had to do, was lay the right kind bait for you to take." Saren said, glaring with baleful hatred at the imposter that wore the form of a proud Turian officer. It burned within him that this...creature was sullying the honour of his people by committing acts like it was one of them.

The fake Salotina hissed in low growl, her mandibles twitching in agitation "Your forms would've be my ticket out of here." it said looking at the both of them from all corner's of her vision as she assessed the situation and plotted on how to get out of it.

"Right, a shame that trick of your couldn't save you this time." Nihlus said, however he knew he was about to regret those words when the alien form began to shift again, taking on a familiar and frightening appearance.

Her form quickly became broader and taller, with her armour's colour tone turning black with red stripes, her facial paint marks bleached to white stripes.

Saren and Nihlus watched in muted awe of what they saw, as the alien infiltrator took on the appearance of only one Turian in the room.

"oh, I don't know about that." before they knew it the alien who changed into Nihlus attacked.

Ducking the fake Nihlus threw himself back directly into Nihlus's body, getting around his weapon as he grabbed Nihlus's around quickly knocked the weapon from his grip with a disarming technique before both Turians realise what had happened.

The fake Nihlus threw his fist up, knocking Nihlus's head up as his fist caught him by the chin, dazing him just enough as he went for Saren.

The other Turian was hesitant to fire his weapon with his friend in the line of fire, Saren tried to defend himself, but the fake Nihlus assaulted him with a barrage of close-quarters' techniques mixed with its morphing abilities that it used on its limbs to enlarge them that the Turian couldn't defend himself against.

Saren was sent crashing back against the council as he used the frame of his gun to shield himself as the fake Nihlus transformed his limb into a large mass that crashed into him before receding back and throwing himself directly into the real Nihlus.

When Saren came too, he saw two copies of his comrade wrestling on the floor, throwing punching and trying to gain the advantage over the other.

Saren picked up his gun and quickly aimed it, but he didn't which Nihlus to aim it at as he had lost sight of the real and fake Turian.

Saren just stood there, watching as the fight unfolded "Nihlus, get out of the way!" Saren called out to the real Nihlus in that tangled mess.

Eventually, one of the Nihlus's managed to dislodge the other from himself as he kicked off the copy and rolled to his feet just like the other Nihlus had and immediately stood up and pointed his talon at his exact copy.

"Saren its him, Shoot!" The 1st Nihlus cried out, with urgency and distress in his tone and expression as he looked at him.

The other Nihlus did the same, quickly before his comrade could assume that he was the fake. "No Saren. Its him!"

Saren was torn as he didn't know which of them was his fellow Turian brother in arms, his gun flickign back and forth between the two of them until he finally got an idea on how identify the real from the fake.

Saren leveled his gun with a steady grip and spoke in a clear and steely tone as he aimed "The first day when we landed on Digerless! What did you say!?" he demanded.

Both copies of Nihlus looked at him, before one stood up in a straight ridged posture and spoke with great conviction in his tone. "I said, Honour and duty." the real Nihlus said before Saren flicked his gun at the other.

Saren levelled his gun at the other Nihlus and fired.

The mass accelerated bullets hit their mark, without kinetic shield or armour, the slugs hit flesh that sprayed in splash of orange slurry that marked the wall behind the fake Nihlus. But it wasn't a kill shot, the fake Nihlus was hit in the arm, its wounded limb reverting back to a giant mass of unknown material.

The alien infiltrator was quick to recover, with a roar its form exploded back to true nature as it retaliated with wide swipe! Aiming to cleave Saren with its elongated talon's as its arm stretched to reach the distance.

But Saren ducked, and took cover behind the table, Nihlus quickly joined in as he ran to quickly grab his gun, but the infiltrator saw and knew his actions! It lashed out with its unwounded appendaged!

It crashed into Nihlus who thankfully wasn't harmed by its talons, but was harmed by the sheer impact as he was sent flying away from the fight, his entire back connected to the wall and he fell to the floor unconscious.

Leaving the fight alone to Saren who unloaded his slug pellets into the alien monstrosity, it screamed in pain and directed its full attention back to its attacker. It reached out, grabbing a nearby console it had previously ripped from the walls and holding it towards Saren. Blocking his shots as his vision was obstructed by the machinery in his line of fire, and even more unfortunate was his gun overheating.

Saren cursed out as his weapon was cooling down, giving the alien the opportunity it needed rear the machinery it had and threw it. Saren didn't have time duck and so took the full force of the object that was hurled at him and sent him crashing into the far end of the room where he landed with the console pinning him down.

Unlike Nihlus, Saren was fully conscious and tried desperately to pushed the object that weighed heavily on him away, all the while he could see the alien stalking towards.

Its talon's poised to piece and he doubt his kinetic barriers would do little to stop them from delivering the killing blow. But just as the alien was right on top of him and about to thrust its limb "I heard Gunshots over here!" The echoing cries Turian soldiers from down the hall caught its attention as it looked towards the doors and then back down at Saren.

They eye's met, with Saren glaring up into the red biddy eye's of his adversary who shared in his anger towards him before it let out a rumble from its mouthless mandibles and reluctantly dropped its arm.

Its form shrank as its shifted into a familiar appearance that all the more disgusted and infuriated Saren as it stood, with its lips posed in a smirk "Well...it looks like our time here is up. Thanks for the free ticket out of here." Saren just glared a the mockery this alien held against him as it posed as him, though the details of his armour were lacking, it was the face that would easily ensure its escape from the base.

The fake Saren arm extended up into the shaft above their heads, it arm shifted around in the vent before receding back, in its grasp was a small device that it attached to its being and activated.

It then turned and ran out of the command centre, Phasing through the locked doors and yet despite Saren's cries for aid...it was too late, minutes late an entire squad finally came, unlocked the doors and saw the sight of their entire command centre destroyed and two of their CO's knocked out or pinned under the debris.

Immediately they split into two groups and rushed to aid their commander's, a group of them managed to get the large machinery off of Saren, just in time as Nihlus was coming to.

"Wh-What? Where?" he asked, shaking his head as he looked around the room for their intruder that they were previously fighting. He only saw the aftermath of their battle, as Saren was helped to his feet only to push off the support the troopers were trying to give him, it wasn't their fault and Saren knew it, like anyone in his place was bitter and still fuming after losing a fight.

"That piece of Varren dung got away!" Saren spat out, hobbling over to the command table, his face contorted into an ugly sneer, what ever Nihlus missed, it had greatly affected Saren.

The commander of the squad spoke up as he address the two "Sir, we can organise a search party-"

"Its already too late." Nihlus interrupted him, he dare not look at them. Much like Saren and any other Turian, his pride was wounded although he wasn't expressing it just as much as Saren was. "It...has already gotten away. With how much of our intel...we can only hazard a guess that our enemy now has the information it needs to launch an attack."

Their location, they're numbers, not including civilians and their...supplies "Captain. I want a full assessment of munitions, rations and the supplies we have. Organise a full party to strip search everything, I want to make sure that our intruder didn't sabotage anything else!" Nihlus commanded, organising the troops to search for any nefarious traps or tinkering with their equipment.

"yes Sir!" The captain saluted before he took as many of his men with him, leaving only a few behind to salvage what remained of their equipment.

Nihlus turned towards Saren who continued to glare down at the inactive grid of their command table. Nihlus knew that Saren wasn't brainstorming new battleplans or devising tactics in light of this new threat the changed face of warfare as they knew it.

"...Saren." Nihlus called out to his friend who continued to stare dagger into the blank map, his talons squeezing hard into the frame of the council.

"Hmmm!" Saren grunted, refusing to let his eyes look up to meet Nihlus as he continued to glare down on the table.

"We need to prepare the evacuation of the planet."

-Meanwhile with the fake Saren.-

The faceless infiltrator codename cipher had escaped from the Turian stronghold and now exited into the frozen wilderness of the planet's northern sector.

Cipher ran as fast as its taken form would allow, its destress beacon had been activated, indicating that it required immediate pick up at its present location.

The blizzard wracked through the terrain, pelting it and everything in vicinity with huge balls of snow the size of a man's fist.

The hazardous conditions of nature made flying impossible within the parameters of the northern tundra.

Even advanced space craft were not exempt from the harsh artic weather that dominated the terrain.

As the heavy wind carried the sub-zero temperatures that froze everything in a casing of ice and snow.

And for a creature like Cipher, who was made entirely out of a malleable loose fluid structure that constricted into hard and small form that was wholly assailed by the fierce elements that was entirely dangerous to herself.

The malleable cells of her structure began to freeze, hampering her movements as her body slowly began to get slower and slower with each minute that passed.

She had already hailed for an emergency evac as she activated her personal beacon, but with the harsh conditions of this frozen tundra, evacuation appeared to be less and less unlikely to happen in this dire situation she found herself.

Still, with desperation fuelling a kindling sense of hope that she held out for that small chance that her rescue was coming. She activated her personal comns link that was a small radio device imbedded by a cyber implant within her body.

"This is Cipher 10, Requesting emergency evac! I repeat emergency evac! My cover is blown, I need an evacuation asap!" she repeated for the 10th time, as she trudged through the thick snow that rose up to her Turian shaped thighs.

The thick mass of frozen flakes of water were thick and heavy to marsh through with her legs that became stiff as her body slowly froze.

Soon her movements became robotic as her limbs stiffen, each step forward was met with a skin crawling and agonising crack as her shell broke like splintering wood. Shards of her frozen form exploded from her shattered limb.

Cipher screamed in agonising pain, its voice shifting between its current form and its actual voice that was drown out In the wrathful storm that pelted it with hails of snow the size Leafs.

The sub-zero temperatures of the land was a death trap, everywhere she could go was certain death, there was no shelter to take refuge from this killer storm.

Before the thraws of death began to claim her, she could see a pair of twin lights coming right at her before darkness consumed her senses.

-one week later-

Commander Victus had many things to say when he returned.

News of what happened was delivered via short wave transmission relayed from outpost to outpost only days after he had left, by that time the enemy could've mustered an attack force the moment he left the front.

He had hurried with full speed back to the base to see everyone in the midst of preparing an evacuation.

"What happened!?" was the first thing he asked when he entered the command centre, much of the equipment was replaced or repaired to what degree the technicians could salvage from the attack within.

He wasn't angry, only concerned for the lives that relied upon him and his every discission.

Saren and Nihlus were found where last he saw them, coordinating the mass evacuation of the planet. Upon entering they stopped in their duties to salute him "Ser!" he saw the bruised and battered states that they were in, from the short description of the report he heard, they encountered what they presumed to be the enemy that possessed the ability to transform into anyone they saw.

A troubling thought, as anyone he knew could be the enemy.

It was the last thing anyone needed to hear, as it would cause pandemonium but Palavan command needed to know what they were up against.

"At ease you two." he instructed them "I heard you encounter an alien shapeshifter?" he asked them, Saren face twisted even more then a contorted expression of anger and hate, both at himself for allowing the enemy to escape and at the alien who was the enemy besieging their world.

Nihlus spoke first, seeing that Saren wasn't up to talking just yet. "Yes sir. What we thought originally to be a traitor within the ranks. Turned out to be an infiltration unit that took the form of one the squad leaders within the base. For how long...we do not know. We were only fortunate that it didn't do any serious harm to our vehicles and supplies, we also found the real commander locked within one of the supply rooms, severally dehydrated." that was a relief in one way, they dreaded to think how that alien shapeshifter was able to acquire the form of their species.

Sargent's Salotina' own squamates were happy to learn that they're real commander was alive and recovering.

"But... it escaped." Victus said. His facing portraying neither anger nor regret as he just stared at the two.

Saren's face said it all, as he refused to look at Victus with his scowl ever deepening while Nihlus's expression dropped into a regretful and shamed expression of defeat "yes...regretfully we were unprepared for the full capabilities that this creature possessed. I am ashamed to say that I was knocked unconscious when we cornered it, and left Saren to face off against it."

By the end of it, there was a long pause "And yet you two are still alive. I count that a victory in its own right."

"But...sir, we failed to stop it from escaping!?" Saren rebuked, speaking of their inability to prevent their assailant from escaping. A fact that would've had them standing before the tribunal on charges of treasons for allowing the enemy to escape with crippling knowledge of their military secrets.

Some Turian commanders would forego the whole process of a trial and simply have them executed via firing squad.

But not Commander Victus, he wouldn't do that as he saw it as waste of skills and experience. "But you lived to tell the tale. You can debrief Palavan Command on this new foe, and with your experience, we can combat this threat within our ranks." he said, he wasn't about to let these two fine soldiers be tried and shot because of a few old commanders wanted to make an example of them.

Adrian decided to change the subject and advert their thoughts and fears to what they only needed to be concerned with at the present time. "It is clear we can no longer stay here. How are the efforts to prepare for the evacuation?" he inquired about the progress they made in his absence.

Nihlus took this as the opportunity to push away their fears and refocus their attention back to their task "we're nearly done. All that's left is how we're going to escort the transport ships out."

"we can't decide between a mass evacuation at once with a full fighter escort. Or a series of lone transports being escorted by a small squad one at a time through different directions?" he explained, presenting a holographic representation of the two scenario they had laid out.

Commander Victus watched as Saren continued where Nihlus left off. "The problem is, is that our fighter's aren't equipped to handle a straight fight against their own fighter squadrons. Not to mention they don't possess FTL drive to make any jumps. They'll be going on a suicide mission with no hope of using the mass relay." this was one of the primary dilemma they had before them, their ships would make the just, but their fighter pilots would be left to hold off their escape.

"...walk me through from the beginning. What's the plan?"

"We have several unarmed transport ships. They're equipped with Kinetic barriers, some we've modified with military grade shielding. However they won't last long against any bombers or ships that intercept them." Saren explained, giving him a bit of good news to know that their transports had some degree of protection.

Saren worked on the terminal for the command console, having their holoprojector zoom out to show their planet and the armada that circled out it along the equatoris line of the world. The enemy fleet was spread thin to encompass the planet in a ring of ships. "Fortunately due to our position on the North axis of the world. We'll be able to evade the armada blockading this planet. The only problem is their fighters and bombers. They're fast enough to incept our transports."

Nihlus jump back in, presenting his original plan "Right. Previously I wanted to use a squad to transport our ships one at a time. With our surface to space cannon's set to automatic fire to cover their retreat. But that would only destroy our opportunity to send out more transports once the enemy gets wind of what we are doing."

Saren took over and presented his plan that they were going with "So I suggested a mass evacuation. We fill our transport up first in the main hanger and pose them outsides to prepare to fly off as soon as the last transport is ready. They'll be protected by every fighter we got. But...that would mean that we would be sending all of our pilots to their deaths." he

"...I see...I can understand where you both stand on this. It isn't an easy decision to make...We'll go with Saren's plan. A mass evacuation has a greater chance of succeeding, in getting as many of our civilians and soldiers off the planet." Commander Victus said, agreeing with Saren's plan.

But their conversation was interrupted by a radio technician who intruded upon their planning "Commander. We're receiving a transmission from our forward outpost in subsector 6!" the technician called out from his post, drawing their attention to him.

"What is it?" Commander Victus inquired, focusing his attention on the technician who called out to him, which also prompted the attention of everyone else in the command centre.

"They are reporting... Spirits! They are reporting wave after wave of landing craft in their sector!" "Mechanised walkers and army troops. They are gearing up for siege!" the technician exclaimed, his terror reverberating off of everyone who heard his words.

Fear and panic was all over their faces as they looked at each other with horrified expressions, their will and resolve were already stretched thin due to the invader's relentless onslaught that broke through any defence or barrier they constructed.

All eyes turned to Victus who felt the immense weight of everyone, including those across the planet bare down upon him.

They waited on baited breathes, their eyes locked on him as they waited, waited on his orders as they needed to know! They desperately wanted to know what they should do!?

"..." Commander Victus thought long and hard on the decision that he had to make that would ultimate decide their fates.

Finally, Commander Victus came to a decision. "Prepare for a mass evacuation immediately! I want all engineers to have those shuttles ready, and I want it ready yesterday!"

At once, all of the Turians around him snapped to attention, conviction and zeal resurfacing within them at his command "Yes sir!" they saluted before going to work.

Commander Victus turned to his two commanders that he needed in this pivotal moment in their people's history. "Saren, Nihlus, Get what men you can and have them and prepare trenches along Tiber point. I want all of our armour there to support our defence." he instructed, already plotting out their final lines of defence for the lives of his people.

"But sir...we won't be able to fight them off." Nihlus said, unable to see the tactics his commander had plotted in his head.

"I'm Not looking to fight them Nihlus. I want to stall them just long enough for our shuttle to evacuate this planet." he said, quickly informing them of his battle plan for the oncoming forces that was going to attack them very soon.

"Send out the evacuation signal. All outposts and resistance cells are to rendezvous at Omega base immediately."

-Meanwhile in the Citedel, pricidum collums-

News of Digerus's fall did not sit well for denizens of the Citadel.

Mass protestors stood outside the Citadel council chambers, raising their voices as high as they could, screaming for action to be taken against this alien menace.

And it wasn't just Turians shouting.

Salarians, Asari, and even the Volus were calling for the council to take action against this unknown threat that they feared.

Fear spread throughout the citadel like a plague that caused madness and terror to surge with riots, violence and paranoia amongst its citizens.

Some ransacked shops and warehouses to stockpile on provisions and weapons in the event that the alien invaders find their way here.

Criminal rings have never before profited from the instability this war was bringing them as they brought in high-grade illegal weapons and sold them to the highest bidder.

Vigilantes and unrecognised militia forces were organised outside of council law.

This was perhaps one of the darkest moments in the Citadels history second only to the Krogan Genophage and the Rachi wars.

Again the council members convened to put a plan into action on how to resolve the ongoing crisis with only one crying out for war.

"This is madness!" Counciler Spartacus roared to the top of his lungs before his fellow councillors "The enemy is right on our door step and you still choose to do nothing!?" he could not believe that despite the situation as these unknown aliens were now a foot away from his home world of palavan.

The conquering of Digerus marked as a foothold in both citadel space and the Turian Colonies with both in arms reach of these invaders.

To Spartacus, his fellow councillors were morons! Their voices and ideals split from what should be a joint military offensive with the two other great races.

Counciler Tilus tried to be voice of reason and calm amongst her compatriots "We have read the reports Councilor Spartacus. Know that we are just as concerned as you are but there are other ways In dealing with these problems then brute military force."

"Military Force is what is needed now more then ever!" Spartacus again scream out, he project his voice in tandem with those currently beseeching the council to do something! Other then sit on their hands and knees "If Palavan Falls, the only defence the citadel has is gone with it!" he stated the obvious dilemma that the Turians were the only military force to protect the council who relied upon them for their fleet and military.

Tavos had enough reminders of how the Turians protected them time and time again "We do not need a reminder has to how vital the Turian Hierarchy is to the security of the galaxy. We are ever grateful to your people role in our defence and safety, but we are facing an enemy that is unlike anything we have encountered." The Turians were more integrated into the council affairs then what Travos would've liked.

Their ships currently in orbit were the bulk of the defence fleet with a few Asari vessels. They were essential to the security both internal and external in all Citadel affairs with C-sec, Spectres, even their fleet protected the Citadel as they held choke points to relays that led directly to the Citadel.

Some of those fleets shrank in size to reinforce the Turian's forces who were being pushed back into their space.

So yes, they were vital and if they lost them then the council and all of the species under it will be affected.

"I agree with Councilor Tavos on this Spartacus." Spoke Councilor Ish, an elder female Salarian who represented the Salarian Union.

An amphibious race of Bipedal frogmen who lacked the natural resilience and longevity of both races, but more then made up for it with their keen and superior intellect which made them the brain and intelligence of the council's espionage and intelligence services.

"You want peace?" Spartacus roared at the amphibious alien accusingly, staring at her with hateful eyes as he looked to his fellow councillor who was perhaps the only one that truly saw the urgency of aiding the Turian in their desperate hour.

"I said no such thing. Rather, I suggest we approach this from a different angle." (Name) said in passive and submissive manner to pacify her colleague's unruly anger "I am not proposing we follow Tavos in her subject for peace. I am aware of the vital position the Turian fleet is to citadel space. So what I am suggesting is a joint military alliance between our species in light of this new threat."

That surprised to the two councilmembers who had a different reactions and emotions to this startling news.

Spartacus was overjoyed at the news that he was finally getting the support that his people urgently needed.

His fellow councilor on the other hand...had opposing feeling on the matter.

"What!?" Tavos cried out in shock over this statement "Councilor Ish I was made aware of your decision to involve the Salarians in the war!?" she shouted, breaking her perfect mask and revealing the emotions underneath that her councils could see.

Shock.

Surprise.

Anger.

And protest.

Ish looked at Tavos with a small smirk aimed directly at her as the Salarian pulled out her trump card this meeting "It was decided by the Union, I am merely a messenger." which wasn't a lie, the Sararians were invested in acquiring the mysterious technology of this new foe. However Ish knew that Tavos would oppose this if she brought it up before the meeting.

The Asari loved to meddle in the affairs of other races, often coming out on top of the deals they brokered and the disputes they settled.

Asari loved to put on a front before others, but beneath that glamour and fecade of peacemakers, the Asari were dangerious and cunning.

"The Salarian union will commit its resources to helping you fight this new threat."

"I also propose that we militarise our spectre operatives." Spartacus pushed for the motion, only to get a loud response from his Asari Cohort.

"Absolutely not!" Tavos shouted, bring their full attention back on to her. "With the crisis of the Turians War, we need our operatives to survey and prevent rogue elements such as the Krogans, Baterians and criminal organisations from using the disorder of this war to further their agendas that could be a threat to the councils law and Authority!" she protested, trying to prevent them from throwing their most important forces that they needed to stabilise their authority.

Spectres where officers of the councils Special Tactics and Reconnaissance.

They were right hand to the Citadel council's authority, soldiers and agents recruited from the branches of the council races military and intelligence sectors of their people, after being recognised for their merit and achievements In the line of duty.

Spectres were by all definition above the law and the reproach of their actions when it violates and breaks the laws of planets and species in their mission to eliminate potential threats.

Only the council has the authority and power to arrest and strip a spectre of their rank and status if they are found to have exceeded their mandate and it costed so many lives or they were guilty of crimes that even the council could not ignore...which was rare considering the fact that the council often swept the issues of their spectres sins under the rug and denied all evidence of their agents being present during the calamity.

But Ish just smiled at her with a condescending smirk "Unfortunately, in the current crisis, Spectres are deployed as the first line and last line of support. In the presence of war, all spectres operatives are to be utilised in the best interest of the council and its aligned races." she said, bringing up one of the fundamental laws of their Spectres.

"If you'd like, we could put this to a vote." she suggested but in a rhetoric fashion.

Tavos knew she had no power to stand against her co-councillors.

The laws of the Citadel and its council were absolute in the democracy it sought to up hold, council decision were made based on the majority votes its 3 councillors acted upon.

One councillor can vote for one thing, the second councillor can vote against it, finally the 3rd councillor would be the tie breaker as their vote would be crucial in the decision the council will go with.

The Asari and by extension the Citadel had too much invested in the unity and cooperation of the other races. Try as she might, if she argued against it or tried to boycott the decision, the only outcome to this was showing that the council was divided and the worst outcome to her actions was the complete division of the citadel as a whole.

The citadel would dissolve as council aligned races and associate members would abandon the alliance and strike out on their own. This would have severe repercussions as the trade agreements, and alliances all races under the Citadel would break, the law and protection of the Citadel would become non-existent and open up the various races to the threats of the terminus, where warlords, criminal and terrorist organisations would seize upon the opportunity to expand their influence and achieve their goals.

"...No...I know that its pointless to argue against it." Tavos receded her vote against using spectres for this war.

The asari had invested too much into the unity of the Citadel for it to be fractured due to opposing ideals.

She could only maintain a perfected impassive expression that hid the boiling rage beneath her calm exterior as she looked on as Spartacus gained a smug smirk as he looked as though he had already won the war.

He began to converse with Ish about the Salarian's involvement in the war, all the while ignoring Tavos who became invisible to the two.

Tavos knew that the Salarians weren't joining the Turians out of an earnst desire to help out their allies, and Spartacus knew it too but that mattered little to him.

The Salarians were only interested in acquiring and analysing the technology of these alien foes.

And although that in itself was a good thing, as she had no doubt that the Salarians would crack the technology of this unknown empire.

But there was more to this then simply the Salarians offering their support, this involvement with the council was a declaration of war.

Something that had not happened since the Krogan rebellions as the council tried to distance itself from becoming involved in personal affairs of associate races least they be dragged into a conflict between two parties.

But it was out of Tavos's hands, with the military alliance between the Turians and Salarians, as well as the involvement with the spectres, it was only a matter of time before the Asari Republic and all other races were dragged into this mess.

-In orbit of Digerus. The sword of Sol, flag ship of the 5th fleet. A days ago.-

The sword of Sol, the Olympus class flag ship of the 5th fleet hovered in orbit around the planet, outside the sparsely populated ring of ships that followed the equator of the world.

Onboard the Sword of Sol, Admiral Jacob Patting, a Hybrid naval commander of the 5th fleet was going over the reports his Lieutenant, steven Hacket was presenting to him. "Are these reports accurate?" Admiral Jacob inquired as he looked to his young officer who was an aspiring example of human intregity and inovation as his track record had him arising to every rank due to his heroism and acts of valour.

"Yes sir. The Turians are preparing for a mass exodus from their planet. At sector 9 in the northern hemisphere of the planet." Lieutenant Hacket said, standing at attention before his commanding officer.

"Alert General Ark that Turians are preparing their last stand and to mobilise his ground forces to intercept and lay siege to the Turians base. We cannot allow them to escape the planet." He order.

"Yes sir...but uh, sir..." Lieutenant Hacket paused as he looked to his commander with a puzzled expression on his face. "The weather conditions on that part of the planet make it hazardous for our star craft to provide any sort of support to our ground forces. And the rocky and uneven Turian make it difficult our land vehicles to traverse through." he stated over the tough and inaccessible conditions of the terrain

"Thats why we're going to us our mechanised walkers and hover bikes to laid siege to the Turian's last stronghold."

-omake, the first galactic war. CE 2167 17th of May-

It would forever be marked in the annals of galactic history of the major scaled conflict between the Citadel allied species and the Empire of the Star union.

The first galactic war had officially begun when the Salarians and citadel as a whole joined I the conflict.

As the Salarians and soon after all associated races became involved in the war effort against an empire with the technology and the resources to rival the unchallenged authority of the citadel.

Never before would the galaxy see a war such as this.

Not even the Rachni wars had garnered the amount of the attention and involvement of multiple species.

With the Turians on the defensive, the citadel council organised the full support of its organisations and facilities to aid its fellow council species in their time of need.

But while all looked bleak for the Turians, there was in fact a ray of hope for the Hierarchy as the courage and valour of its most stalwart heroes would stem the tide of the war and find victory where others would only see failure and defeat.

Finished.

I hope you enjoyed that.

Originally I was planning to skip the entire 1st contact war, but now I'm not.

I realised that I may have made the Star union a bit too op, but with their advanced technology it is only natural that they have an advantage over the other species of the galaxy. But humanity is severely under powered and overlooked to the rest of the galaxy in the cannon version.

However, in the previous chapter I gave the Turians an edge in handing the Star union its only defeat.

I'll keep everything as it is, but in later chapters, we'll be focusing on the Turian's side of the story so we can see their POV and also set the stage for some of the established characters in the mass effect universe and how they are affected in the story.

Any way, time to give you all an update on all of the story's I've been working on for this site.

Skin Deep Ch 13 50%

Dance of Serpents Ch 8 30%

Dance of Serpents Ch 1 Re-written 80%

Kim Possible- Rise of Shadows Ch 10 80%

Jaune Arc MD- Cyber Arc 2077 (Cyberpunk) 40%

Age of Terror Reign of the Night Ch 14 50%