The squad sat in silence not looking to each other. The death of Kadain hit them all hard especially Shepard, who had worked with the sentinel for years. But there was little that they could do now other than mourn his loss.

"I... I can't believe Kaidan didn't make it. How could we just leave him down there?" Ashley asked still trying to make sense of the loss.

"Alenko knew the risks going in, and he gave his life to save us," Zenna said in an emotionless tone.

"It should have been me, Commander," the huhound chided. "You know that!"

"This was my decision, Williams," the commander shot back. "I had to save as many people as I could. You were with the Salarian team, a bigger priority as they held intel. I don't regret my decision, but I do wish I could have saved both,"

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Liara said try change the subject. "But I have an idea. I believe that the beacon you found on Virmire was similar to the one you found on Eden Prime. It may have filled in the missing parts of your vision. I might be able to help you put all of those pieces together,"

"You want to join our minds together, don't you?" Zenna asked rhetorically as she stood. "Okay, do it,"

Liara approached her. "Relax, Commander," her hands outstretched and touched the saide of the commander's face, "Embrace eternity!"

Zenna yelled out as the images flew through her mind again. They were clearer and didn't flash through her mind as quickly. It showed the Reapers slaughtering the Protheans. Some Protheans were being turned into husks. The vision ended with a view of two suns, but the view expanded to show two more planets. It then focused on one. It quickly zoomed in on the one planet and showed Sovereign in the planet's shadows.

"Incredible," Liara said as she exited the melding. "I... I never thought the images would be so... intense. I need a moment to collect myself,"

Zenna shook her head she tried to make sense of what she saw. "Did the vision make any sense to you?" she asked trying to sake the felling that something in the images bugged her.

"It's a distress call, a message sent out across the Prothean Empire. A warning against the Reapers but the warning came too late," Liara answered as she rubbed the side of her head.

"What about the Conduit?" Zenna asked.

"There were other images. Locations. Places I recognize from my research... Ilos! The Conduit is on Ilos! That is why Saren needed to find the Mu Relay!" her eyes widened in realised what they needed to do. "It is the only way to get to Ilos,"

"The Mu Relay is inside the Terminus Systems," Tali reminded. "Alliance ships are not welcome there. Neither are Spectres,"

"The Conduit is on Ilos. The place Saren is heading. We need to get there. One way or the other," Zenna said determined to make Saren pay.

"Saren will have his entire fleet orbiting Ilos," Liara argued. "You will never make it down to the surface without reinforcements. You must alert the Council. We need a fleet to- ahh..." Liara shuddered at the headache. "I am sorry. The joining is... exhausting. I should go to the medical bay and lie down for a moment,"

"Do so, we're done here. Everyone dismissed and get some rest. We're going to need every bit of energy we have," everyone started to leave the comm room as Joker came one.

"Commander, there's a comm buoy nearby. I can link us in if you want to report back to the Citadel Council. You know, to warn them about Sovereign," he said.

"Set it up, Joker. I'm not in the mood, but they have to know," Zenna said as she cracked her neck.

"Patching it through," Joker said as the holograms of the three Councillors appeared before the commander.

"Commander Shepard," Tevos greeted. "I'm pleased to see the mission was a success,"

"Saren is formidable enough without an army of Krogan serving under him." Velarn added. "But I'm also interested in this demi-human cure. How did that turn out?"

"Destroyed," the commander said flatly making it clear she wasn't interested in discussing it. "But they would have served Sovereign, a Reaper," Shepard corrected.

"Yes, we saw mentioned of this on your Report," the Salarian Councilor said. "Sovereign. A sentient machine. A true artificial intelligence. This news is quite alarming... if it turns out to be accurate,"

"Sovereign's a Reaper," Shepard assured them. "Saren admitted it. I even talked to it,"

"He's playing you, Shepard!" Sparatus argued. "Saren still has contacts on the Citadel. He probably saw your earlier reports. The ones talking about your vision. And the Reapers,"

"It's highly possible Saren is using false information to throw you off balance," the Salarian agreed. "Our own intelligence has never turned up any corroborating information,"

"Your own intelligence turned up nothing before, during Saren's investigation and look where that got you," Shepard said criticizingly. "Just because there is no evidence doesn't necessarily mean that something does not exist. Look at the police forces of earth and C-sec. Most of the time they have nothing but eye witnesses to go on. How is this any different?"

"Now wait just a-" the turian councilor tried to get in before being cut off.

"Please see things from our perspective, Commander," Tevos tried to diffuse the situation. "Saren is a threat we can recognize. However, as far as we know, the Reapers only exist in your visions."

Velarn didn't speak further, but looked extremely angry at Shepard.

"Our decisions affect trillions of lives," the Salarian added. "We cannot act on the accusations of single person. Even a Spectre. Not without solid evidence. The Council cannot take official action here. That is why we created the Spectres. You have the authority to act as you see fit. But if you truly believe Sovereign is the real threat, you must take whatever steps are necessary to stop it. And Saren."

"Good luck, Commander. From all of us," Tevos said before the holograms vanished and Shepard swore.

"Goddamn morons," she muttered as she walked into the CIC and made her way towards the galaxy map.

Joker called in over the ship's comm system. "I forwarded the mission update to the Citadel, Commander. We've got confirmation on those reinforcements. Ambassador Udina wants us to report back to the Citadel. The Council is massing a joint-species fleet to deal with Saren and his Geth,"

But despite that she got what she wanted something felt off to the commander. "Take us back then,"

"Yes, sir!"

OOOOO

Shepard and her team approached the platform in the Council Chamber. Udina was next to him.

"Good job, Shepard," Udina congratulated. "Thanks to you, the Council's finally taking real action against Saren!"

Zenna looked at him with an inquisitive eye, he was hiding something and she could smell it.

"The ambassador is correct," Tevos commented. "If Saren is foolish enough to attack the Citadel—as you believe—we will be ready for him,"

"Patrols are stationed at every mass relay linking Citadel space to the Terminus Systems," Udina added smugly.

"You can't honestly believe a blockade's going to stop him?" Shepard said. "He's on Ilos looking for the Conduit right now! What are you doing about that? For all we know it could be a weapon that could destroy the blockade,"

"Ilos is only accessible through the Mu Relay, deep in the Terminus System, Commander. If we send a fleet in there, the only possible outcome is full-scale war," Sparatus countered.

"Now is the time for discretion, Commander," Udina cautioned. "Saren's greatest weapon was secrecy. Exposed, he is no longer a threat. This is over,"

"One ship going into the Terminus Systems won't start a war. Especially a stealth ship," Shepard argued. "I can be discreet,"

"You detonated a nuclear device on Virmire!" Velarn countered. "I wouldn't call that discreet,"

"Really? Then what should I have done? Let the Korgan take Citadel?" she asked her tone turning sarcastic.

"Your style served you well in the Traverse, Commander," Tevos said. "We recognize that. But Ilos requires a deft touch. We have the situation under control,"

"No, you don't!" Shepard yelled. "If Saren finds the Conduit, we're all screwed! We have to go to Ilos! What will happen when he gets to it? What happens if it's a weapon you cannot take out? What if it's the largest space ship we've ever seen? Have you even thought about what it is? What it could to any of us? You don't have control you are operating under the delusion you are,"

Velarn sighed. "Ambassador Udina, I get the sense Commander Shepard isn't willing to let this go,"

"There are serious political implications here, Shepard. Humanity's made great gains thanks to you. But now you're becoming more trouble than you're worth," he said making both the commander and Ash growl

"You bastard!" Willams roared. "You're selling us out!"

"It's just politics, Commander. You've done your job, now let me do mine. We've locked out all of the Normandy's primary systems. Until further notice, you're grounded,"

"No one stabs me in the back and gets away with it, Udina!" Shepard warned

"I think it's time for you and your team to leave, Commander. This is no longer concerns you. The Council can handle this. With my help of course. You best go before you do something stupid, Commander," he sneered.

Shepard said nothing and looked from the council to Udnia and back again. "Has anyone resigned from the Spectres before?" she asked.

The councillors looked surprised and to one another. "No…" Tevos was about to continue before Shepard interrupted her.

"Then I resign from the Spectres. Effective immediately," she announced shocking both Udina and the council as well as the on lookers.

"You what?" Udina asked. "Shepard do you know what you just did?"

Zenna ignored him and turned. "But if you truly believe something is the real threat, you must take whatever steps are necessary to stop it," she said before walking off.

OOOOO

Stress wasn't something Zenna could deal with well. If anything, it made her more pissed off then normal. Sitting at her workbench, she placed a few parts to one side. Parts of her assault rifle lay to the side as she tinkered with the inner mechanism. She wanted to increase the size of the rounds that the rifle fired to get more damage out of it. The rate of fire would have to be sacrificed, but she saw it as a fair trade. But her own tiredness was catching up with her. All of the stress, all of the exhaustion she had felt over the past few weeks was finally catching up to her.

At last she just moved some of the parts out of the way and rested her head in her hands. "Fuck it all," she muttered.

"I can't believe they still won't believe after everything you've done," Liara said as she walked in with Ashley.

"Makes me wonder," Ash added. "Who's the bigger fool? Them or us for believing that they'd take their heads out of their asses,"

"Probably me," Zenna admitted.

"Not you, Zenna. You did everything right and more. Nobody... Absolutely nobody could have done what you've did!" Liara defended.

"This stupid Council owes you for everything and more! Instead, they strip you of your command and ground the Normandy. Maybe we can get an appeal by letting the Reapers come," Ash said.

"By the time they would even consider letting me go, it would be too late," Zenna laughed a bit but there was no humour behind it.

"Y-You just can't give up, John! This galaxy is depending on you," Ash said before Liara could say it.

Shepard gave a weak smile. "Have I ever come across as a quitter?"

Ash and Liara smiled at her. "No, you haven't but I assume you have a plan?" the hu hound said

Her smile grew. "Something of one," as she pulled herself up, she nearly tripped and the two got a hold of her.

But their hands made the minotaur blush while Ash and Liara looked at each other with conflicting looks. Ashley had a small smile, but Liara had a bit of a disapproving look on her.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt," Joker said over the ship's PA. "Got a message from Captain Anderson,"

They sighed in disappointment and relief.

"What did he want?" Zenna asked.

"Only to meet him in the wards, at Flux,"

"I'm on my way," the minotaur said as she pulled away from the two. "You guys better get ready," she said before leaving.

"What was that all about?" Ashley asked looking to the asari.

"I like Zenna," Liara said looking with disapproval at the human in front of her.

"Oh, I see where this is going," Ash smiled. "Human's don't always have monogamous relations. Especially with demi-humans, in fact minotaur's are known to have multiple partners of both sexes," Liara eyes widened at that.

"But I thought…" she blustered and went red.

"Humans only preferred to have one partner? Regular humans yes but demi-humans not so much. It's part of our animal instincts to procreate with as many as possible. Granted it's not with all demi-humans, but it is with most," she leaned in to Liara's ear. "And I don't mind sharing," she said before leaving the red faced asari alone.

OOOOO

Flux was one of the more popular clubs on the citadel. Music blared and the smell of alcohol met Zenna's nose as she walked in. Neon lights glowed as people drank and others danced. The smells and sounds bombarded the minotaur as she looked around for Anderson. He waved to her getting her attention, she waved back and walked up to his table before sitting down.

"I'm glad you're here Shepard, I heard what happened," he said his voice trying to hide his anger.

"They pulled me off of the mission, just like when they pulled you off of the Normandy," Zenna gritted her teeth.

"I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to warn you, but there was no way to get a message to you before you arrived. I know you're pissed off right now, but you can't give up. They all think this is over, but we both know it's not. You have to go to Ilos. You have to stop Saren from using the Conduit!"

"Easier said than done when I have no ship,"

"I have a plan for that," he said as he leaned in. "Udina ordered the lockdown himself. If I can get access to his terminal, I can release the lockdown,"

Zenna, for once, smiled. "I like it, 15 minutes?" Anderson nodded. "Good, give him one that he feels in the morning,"

Asnderson smiled and nodded as they got up and left

OOOOO

Udina was typing away at his computer when Anderson walked in. He tried to ask what the captain was doing but didn't get a chance as a fist made contact with his face knocking him out.

"That, was for the shit you put me though," he said before accessing the terminal.

Once he was done, he was about to leave before two minotaur's walked in. He stopped and looked at them before they gave a jerk of the head and he followed.

OOOOO

Shepard stood by Joker watching the ship's controls. The controls were red, but after a moment it turned green. "Get this ship out of here Joker!" Zenna quickly ordered.

"Aye, aye!" Joker said moving his hands over the controls and sped the ship towards the system's relay. Electricity went around the ship and then suddenly they were sent forward into the next system. Joker looked at the LADAR. "Aw, damn it. No signs of pursuit? I was hoping the Council would send some ships after us. I was looking forward to putting the Normandy through its paces. Figured I'd get to see what this ship can really do,"

"Saren's still out there. Maybe we'll get a chance to play hide-and-seek with Sovereign," Shpeard quipped.

"You know it doesn't seem like much fun when you say it, Commander. So, you need something?"

"How long until we reach the Mu Relay?" she asked

"ETA two hours," Joker said as he did the calculations.

"Call me when we get close,"