The Forward Operating base is in terrible conditions. Food is low, more than half of the soldiers are injured, unable to continue fighting. Dr. Chakwas came and used an entire 1 months' supply of medigel and still it wasn't enough. To make matters worse, waves of husks attack the FOB. The only thing slowing them down is the bodies of previous attacks, forming mutilated hedges of man and machine. Despite all the chaos, the despair, the pain, there is hope. Commander Shepard, the first human spectre, the protector of the galaxy is here. Anything that stands in his way immediately enters the ground. Shepard is making the rounds with everyone who stood by his side. Some from the very beginning, others newcomers, but all are behind him.

I, Wrex, and Grunt are with Urdnot squad. Many of them are faces I recognize and extras from neighboring clans. We stand on the second floor of a broken building. The chunks of concrete underneath are the foundations our cliff. Above we stand as leaders. Today we fight for the right of life for all living beings no matter where they came. Tali's right by my side, her love and support calm my tight nerves. I tell myself "There can't be any way in hell she'll be taken from me." I pray to the Source not to allow it. Of course he doesn't respond. I'd like to think it believes I don't need it, but I want it's help. I'm so close to having what I should have had millennia ago.

Wrex smells the Commander coming from a mile away "Shepard. You did it. No matter what else happens today, you did what no one else could. You united a galaxy. That's a victory right there. And don't worry, I know why you're going to win– because you brought the krogan. Oh, and Bakara sends her regards. She's already pregnant. There are benefits to being a clan leader. But she keeps insisting we name the first one 'Mordin.'"

I comment "I'll make sure to tell Mordin that. I'd love to see his face when he hears a krogan will be named after him. Where is he?"

Shepard says "He got antsy again and decided to make bombs out of debris he can find. Scary how little time it took him."

Tali says "You know salarians. Work as fast as the talk."

Wrex says "I'm just grateful there is at least one salarian who knows their ancestors fucked up, but that's the past. We are here to fight for a better future. Oh, meant to tell you Shepard, Earth reminds me of home, but dirtier. Guess you'll be needing a new planet, too. That's okay. Tuchanka's got room to spare–and a guard dog named Kalros. SUCK IT UP PRINCESSES!"

Grunt rhetorically asks "how soft has the clan gotten since we've left? Even the weakest tank breeds would be disgusted at this."

Time for my motivational speech "LISTEN UP KROGAN! I've lived among you for years. I slept on your homeworld's dirt, ate your food, witnessed the sun fall on the ruins of your once beautiful cities. But that didn't compare to the loss of your spirit, your motivation, your purpose of what was once the formerly great Krogan civilization. You wandered aimless for centuries, with no hope of life improving, until that was when you worked to make it better. You brought back craftsmanship, agriculture, art, the lovestruck poet who somehow survived. But the Reapers have a different idea. They want to erase all of that simply because they can't tolerate you, because you are a threat to their control. They will take everything from you away and wipe the name krogan from the galaxy's history, unless we stand against them. You may be afraid. I say GOOD! Feel that fear. That is the fear of your future being stolen from your very hands. That fear is your power to fight for what is rightfully yours. Harness it! Channel it! And let's make the Reapers understand what the Krogan really are and how absolutely fucked they are!"

The Krogan squad clan roared a mighty roar. I know how tough these sons of bitches really are. Nothing can stop them once they put their mind to something. A united krogan front will make the banshees flee in terror.

Wrex says "For too long we've been the laughingstock of the galaxy. Our ancestors spawned from the dirt, made to conquer the harshest planet in this galaxy. A bunch of buckets of bolts from empty space have nothing on us. They don't fight, they don't struggle, this makes them weak. Once things stop going their way, they'll crumble like the shacks of shit they are. Now listen up and listen well. Our priority is to get Shepard to the citadel at all costs. I will fight alongside you. I fought alongside Shepard when he killed a Reaper with Kalros right behind him. That was a glorious day, but this battle will be the greatest the krogan ever witness and I'll be damned to the void if I'm not taking out as many as those mechanical bastards with me and so should you."

Grunt says "All our names will be written in songs for the rest of krogan history. It's an honor being your clan brother Wrex of Clan Urdnot."

Wrex shouts "Today, everyone is our clan. Protect your brothers, protect the asari, protect the turians, even the salarians, and I personally request his woman's safety."

Tali nervously waves to the testosterone fueled tortoises down below.

The rowdy crowd of krogan soldiers scoffs at the idea. One NPC asks "why should we risk our tails for a quarian?"

I yell "because she is going to be my wife!"

Tali squeals in delight. Her strong fingers twist one of my bones out of place. My eyes nearly eject from their sockets.

The crowd of krogan collectively think "oh shit!" I literally hear everyone think it. The crowd below salutes her.

Wrex leans over to Tali "you're basically the krogan queen now."

Tali and leave our two favorite krogan alone with their people. We find our friends and tell each and everyone how much they meant the world to us. Shepard's developing a strategy with Captain Anderson. If I know the Commander, he is loving every minute of working with Anderson. We're outside as we wait. Kaiden whistles. The sound grabs my attention. He looks me straight in the eye and jerks his head, requesting I follow. Tali witnesses this.

My love takes my hands, solemnly looking down, rubbing her two large fingers against my five smaller ones, holding back her tears, my sweetheart tells me "I suppose this is it. This is the last battle."

I ask her "why are you crying?"

Tali says "I'm so scared I'm going to be taken away from you. I know Wrex and Grunt would give their lives for me, but I can't stand the thought of losing you. I love you too much to let you go."

I have an idea. I wanted to do this when the time was right, but I'm too impatient for it and giving it to her now. In my hands, my energy produces a glorious white disc, the size of silver dollar with the thickness of paper. I tell Tali to take it and hold it close to her chest.

Tali asks "what is it?"

I tell her "It's something that will allow you to find me wherever you go."

She doesn't hesitate and clutches it tightly. The light phases through her suit and dissipates in her chest. Tali asks "what just happened?

I grab her helmet, press it firmly against my forehead "I'm telling you after we beat the Reapers. I promise. Do not die on me."

Tali pulls my hands off her visor's cheeks, throws them behind her back, and digs her face into my chest. "I won't. Death can't have me just yet."

We stand for what seems an eternity, until Kaiden calls for me. It breaks my heart to have to pull away from Tali. I kiss her mouthpiece and tell her "I love her." We go our separate ways.

I wipe my tears as I follow Kaiden to a secluded spot. He asks me if I'm ok. I tell him I'm scared of Tali dying and I don't want to lose her. Kaiden understandingly nods. "I know what you are going through. I feel the same about Cortez."

I ask him "Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?"

Kaiden says "That's not the reason. He's back on the Normandy. Safest place right now considering. I need to know before going into battle."

I sigh "I'm not telling you what is happening. If I do, you'll focus on what you expect to happen rather than using your senses and it could cost you your life."

Kaiden says "not that. Listen, it's always been a small fear of mine... I'm I going to hell for being gay?"

I tell him "depends. Do you feel bad afterwards?"

Kaiden says "I feel sore afterwards when Cortez-"

"STOP! I should have been more specific. Do you feel any negative emotions? A guilty conscience? Disgrace? Feeling of wrongdoing?"

Kaiden shakes his head "not in the least."

I take a breather "You'll be fine. I haven't had the chance to ask you this and now might be the last opportunity. Are you mad I saved your life on Virmire? If I hadn't, you could've been in whatever paradise you deserve for years now. A tiny part of me feels guilty for denying you for what's to come."

Kaiden says "I never really thought about it until now… no. Heaven can wait. If I had died, I wouldn't have met Cortez. I'm happy with my life right now, I mean when the Reapers are dead. If anything, I should be thanking you."

I ask him "Honestly? I've always been into a rush to go to whatever afterlife my family's at."

Kaiden says "The way I feel with Cortez, one day you'll understand."

"I hope so. Man, I feel relieved."

Kaiden gets a thought "Quick question. If homosexuality isn't wrong, why is religion so against it?"

"People just love to hate, I guess. Also… here is a secret from the ascended gays which I wish they kept to themselves. Loads of them love to reincarnate where it's still taboo. They told me 'It's kinkier to feel shame during pride month.'"

Kaiden fails to suppress his laughter "I know a few who'd definitely do that."

Our omnitool beeps. Shepard is requesting everyone to join him and Admiral Anderson. Guess it's time to go. Kaiden and I silently walk to headquarters. Shepard and Anderson are at holographic table with three sharp towers. Half a dozen Alliance soldiers and everyone who could make it are here. Liara, Kaiden, Ashley, Garrus,Tali, Edi, Wrex, Javik, Grunt, James, I snake my way to Tali's side and hold her hand tightly. She pulls me close.

Admiral Anderson says "we fought hard to get here. But now the toughest part of our mission begins. We've got to drive right through the heart of Reaper controlled territory, break past their defenses and get to that beam."

Shepard asks "what kind of defenses?"

Anderson scrolls the holographic map "The entire area is crawling with Reaper forces, but our biggest concern is the destroyer protecting the beam itself."

Major Coats asks "can we bring in air support to deal with it?"

Anderson says "negative. Some kind of interference. We'll have to take it out from the ground. Now they've cut a swath, a no-man's-land through the city. We'll have to cross that first. There'll be some limited shelter on the other side but expect heavy ground resistance. We need to get our tanks to here. If we get close enough, we've got a shot at taking that thing out."

Major Coats asks "how much of a shot?"

Anderson says "they know we're coming. This will be a one-way trip for many of us. But there can be no retreat, no stepping back. We move forwards at all costs. Understood?"

Rounds of hoorays from the soldiers, roars from the krogan, battle cried from the turians, biotics fireworks from the asari, salarians cocking their rifles. Everyone is ready for the fight of the millennia.

Anderson recharged from the vigor of the room, orders "Johnson, Coats. You two will co-ordinate the artillery units. Shepard. I'm sending you right up the gut where the resistance is heaviest. Support the tanks the best you can but stay alive. I need you for the final push to the beam. I'll give you a minute with your squad. Pick your team well." Anderson pats his best soldier's back before taking off. Shepard takes a calming deep breath before he turns around.

Shepard address the best crew in the galaxy "This war's brought us pain and suffering and loss… But it's also brough us together–as soldiers, allies, friends. This bond that ties us together is something the Reapers will never understand. It's more powerful than any weapon, stronger than any ship. It can't be taken or destroyed. The next few hours will decide the fate of everyone in the galaxy. Every mother. Every son. Every unborn child. They're trusting you… depending on you to win them their future. A future free from the threat of the Reapers. But take heart. Look around you. You're not in this fight alone. We face our enemy together, and together we will defeat them."