Mass Effect: Imperial Glory

I do not own Mass Effect or any properties thereof, I am not making money off of these writings.

Chapter Five: Search and Rescue.


'these indicate normal thoughts'
This is an AI construct communicating.
'This is telepathy.'
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INF Normandy, Knossos System, March 9th, 2193.

'Commander, it is 0530, and we have arrived in the Knossos system.'

'Thanks Wilco'

Shepard felt the comforting presence of Tali curled up against him.

He took a moment to think about the last few days, his release to active duty, accepting the X/O's position, then command of the Normandy, meeting the Empress and being declared a Spectre. But the very best thing was meeting Tali again, and finding that she felt the same way he did.

They had spent the last few nights exploring each other, sharing and giving pleasure, learning just what made the other tick, 'and moan, and scream' Shepard thought, smiling. He had never been as thankful for Terran Biosciences as the last few days. They would not have been able to enjoy each other nearly as freely if the Quarians still had atrophied immune systems.

Shepard broke out of his reverie, 'Time to get moving.'

He gently shook her, she started to show signs of awakening.

"Mmm, morning." She said.

He leaned down and kissed her, "Morning."

"Do we have time for some fun?" Tali asked, eagerly.

John smiled, "I wish, we're already in the Knossos System, by the time we eat and get suited up we'll be at Therum."

Tali smirked mischievously, "Exactly!"

John was momentarily confused as she pulled the covers off of them both, but as she straddled his face he realized what she meant.

'That's my girl.' He thought, sliding his tongue into her slit as she swallowed his shaft.

Tali's mouth was heaven, two tongues certainly made certain acts more pleasurable.

They had spent every spare moment they could the last three days exploring each others bodies.

He had memorized every part of her, every spot that would elicit a moan or a shriek, the caresses that would make her purr like a kitten. She had done her best to learn everything that would please him. Tali was taking him fully, her tongues swirling around his base while her soft hands massaged his sack. John doubled his own effort, gently sliding two fingers into her tunnel.

Their orgasms came simultaneously, Tali thrashing about, trying to get every drop of her lover's seed, John searching for every bit of her sweet juices, relishing the feel of her swallowing throat.
Tali settled herself back face to face with him, licking John's face clean of her own juices.

"Was that good for you my love?"

Shepard smiled, "You have to ask darling? Now we need to start moving."

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Bridge, INF Normandy.

They strolled onto the bridge together. "Commander on deck!"

"Thank you Normandy," Shepard said.

Pressly saluted, "Commander, we are 15 minutes out from Therum, we've received clearances from the New Yekaterinburg spaceport. ETL is 20 minutes."

"Excellent, carry on Pressly." Shepard responded, moving over to the Command station and taking his seat.

"Commander, incoming transmission from New Yekaterinburg, Governor's Office."

"Patch it into the Comm room Normandy." Shepard commanded, moving to the Comm room.

The vid screen flared to life, showing a heavy built man, wearing House Volkov colors.

"Spectre Shepard, I am Governor Naryov, House Volkov is at your disposal."

"I appreciate that Governor, the only thing I require is the location of a archaeological dig on Therum's southern continent, it's sponsored by Rosenkov Materials." Shepard explained.

"The Immatelus dig is the only major operation on the southern continent, it was formerly a carbon mine until we found the ruins, I believe the main researcher there is an Asari, I'll have the exact coordinates and a map of the area transmitted to your ship. Be warned, there's no area within a good distance of the dig to land something the size of a frigate." the Governor finished.

"Thank you for the information Governor, Shepard out."

--------------------------------

"Pressly, you have a dropsite yet?" Shepard asked.

"Yes sir, there's a small cargo highway leading to the ruin from a pipeline shunt, about 10 miles out from the Immatelus site. It's big enough to land both M35's but the route is not wide enough for the M112, and you'll have to dismount about a mile from the site, it looks like there's been some seismic activity there recently." Pressly answered.

"That'll have to do, have Joker bring us in for a hot drop, I want the Normandy on station to provide support if necessary, I have a bad feeling about this. Tali, let's go suit up."

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Drop Bay, INF Normandy.

"Alright, pile in, Alenko, you'll be in charge of Bravo Squad, Nihlus, Williams, go with him in Mako 2, Tali and Jenkins with me. We're reading nothing unusual yet, but I want everyone to be on their toes, something's gonna break." Shepard ordered, receiving a string of 'Affirmatives'

A M35 IFV normally carried 6, but Shepard's Titan armor ate up the extra room. Both M35's would also provide good firepower in-case something went wrong. Armed with a 70mm Plasma cannon and a coaxial laser repeater in the turret, and a 6 shot missile launcher with non-LOS capabilities, they were formidable vehicles in their own right. He sat on one of the benches.

"Jenkins, you're driving, Tali, take the gunners position." Shepard ordered.

His helmet comm came to life, "Commander, we are lined up for the drop, T minus 50 seconds, hold on."

"Roger Joker."

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Therum, Zolev plateau

The drop was uneventful, the Mako's chem-thrusters had to be refilled between drops, but they were very effective. Therum was definitely not a tourist planet, this area particularly was a hotbed of volcanic activity. The entire plateau was a cooled lava flow. The environment hot as hell, the air filled with ash and sulfur.

'Good thing we all have sealed armor.' Shepard thought. "We're down, good drop, Alenko check in."

"Mako Two is green." Alenko replied.

"Alright, let's head out." Shepard ordered.

"Commander, I don't know what's going on, but the area between you and the digsite just lit up with contacts, no transponders, no available IDs." Pressly commed.

"And here comes the other shoe. Alright Pressly, rig for stealth, anything in the air?" Shepard asked.

"Hot damn, Commander we have a bogey, just took off from a valley near your position, moving to intercept."

Jenkins opened the squad-comm, "Commander, hostile contacts, reading walkers past the valley ahead, they match Geth signatures. 14 contacts."

"Tali, ready to fry some geth?" Shepard asked.

"Born ready Commander." She replied.

"Here we go, contacts in range, Tali light em' up." Jenkins said.

Shepard hooked in to the Optical sensors, watching the battle. Plasma burst forth from the Mako's gun, blowing geth walkers apart, while the geth soldiers were raked by the laser repeater and exploding when hit directly.

Mako 2 left the passage and added it's guns to the firefight, the battle was over within 2 minutes, neither IFV suffering heavy damage.

"We got hit by a couple of those pulse projectiles, they pack a hell of a punch compared to M/A weapons but they still aren't that effective against our armor." Jenkins stated.

"They can still hurt though, enough hits from those walkers will put a Mako down." Tali said.

"Pressly to ground team, Commander come in." The comm flared.

"Read you Pressly, what happened?" Shepard responded.

"It was one of those Geth dropships Commander, we took it out, House Volkov has been alerted and is scrambling Aerospace assets. No idea how they got here, there might be more of them, this area is studded with covered mesas and valleys." Pressly informed him.

"Roger that Pressly, we'll keep an eye out, we just tangled with a company of geth walkers, any idea how many more there are?"

"We're getting scattered signals from about 2 miles ahead of you Commander, looks like a small mining depot, the geth might be using it as a staging area." Pressly replied.

"How fast can those aerospace assets get here?" Shepard asked.

"10 minutes Commander, and they only have interceptors and light fighters." Pressly answered.

Shepard swore, switching to squad-comm, "Jenkins, tell me the launchers are loaded with cluster or plasma munitions?"

"Negative sir, standard loadout." Jenkins answered.

"Alright, we'll do a longhorn then." Shepard explained.

"Reading a side passage up ahead, I think it leads into the depot." Tali stated.

Shepard shook his head, "That's what they'll be expecting." He opened the group wide comm, "Alright squad, pop 4 missiles at the gates and then charge!"

Both Makos fired 2 missiles, then gunned it for the depot, firing their cannons and repeaters at the Geth turrets.

"6..4..2..Breach!" Jenkins called.

Shepard keyed his comm, "Williams, Nihlus, dismount and cover me."

They quickly cleared the three buildings in the compound, opening the gate to continue to the digsite, before remounting and moving out.

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"We've reached the narrow section Commander, can't take the IFV's any further." Jenkins announced.

Shepard keyed his comm, "Alenko, Williams, stay with the vehicles, everyone else dismount."

Nihlus stared at the small opening to the mining trail, "Commander, this is a very good place for an ambush. We can't see anything past these thick rock formations, and we already know the geth can go silent."

"True, which is why I'm on point, let's hit it." Shepard replied.

Shepard led with his heavy repeater at the ready, walking into the small clearing and motioning for the others to form up.

'I have a bad feeling about this.' He thought. "Tali, what's rule 27?"

"If things are going too well, you've walked into an ambush." She replied.

That's when the fun started.

Jenkins called, "Snipers!" and hit the ground, laying down fire with his plasma rifle. Shepard swung around, blasting a pair of geth off an upper ledge.

"Squad, 2 o'clock!" Tali cried, tossing a plasma grenade at the group of incoming geth.

"Nihlus, take out those sharpshooters, Tali, keep that group pinned down, Jenkins, assist."

Shepard cried out as he took a blast to the chest, throwing him back. "They're setting up mounted weapons Commander!" Nihlus informed.

Shepard hit his comm, "Alenko, Williams, I'm lasing a target, give me a spread of missiles."

"Got it sir, missiles ready." Alenko replied.

'Wilco, link them into a target laser.'

'Affirmative Commander, relaying target data.' the AI replied.

The Missiles screamed overhead, hitting the geth positions with a thunderous explosion, annihilating them.

'Was that satisfactory Commander?'

'Good targeting Wilco.' Shepard keyed his comm, "Good shooting Marines."

"Commander, Geth soldiers making a hasty retreat." Tali informed him.

He checked his HUD, Integrity good, 87%.

Shepard shook his head, "Not a chance in hell, they wanted a fight, they're getting one, I'm on point, CHARGE!"

He burst into the second clearing, the passage opening up to the mining trail. The Geth were prepared, he saw towers and barricades set up all the way up the hill.

'Counting 30 Geth soldiers, and 2 of the larger geth type.' His AI informed him.

"Nihlus, Jenkins, covering fire! Tali, with me, kill em' all!" Shepard ordered, moving forward, firing at geth after geth.

Jenkins layed down suppressing fire on the geth barricades, while Nihlus concentrated on the geth in the towers.
They cleared the immediate area, Shepard and Tali moving up the hill.

Tali tossed a plasma grenade over the first barricade, it destroyed both the geth and the barrier.

"Nihlus, Jenkins, move forward, let's clear this trail." Shepard ordered.

They cleared the other 4 barricades quickly, Tali tossing grenades and the rest laying down fire.

"Area secure." Jenkins called. "Good, we've still got a mile to the dig, let's move." Shepard said.

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The digsite wasn't much to look at, a standard Rosenkov-L4 mineshaft sunk into the ground, with a large ramp leading up. A small open barn with crates and containers stacked inside.

"The site's deserted, no vehicles, no signs of life. The geth got here first." Shepard stated, turning his view magnification off.

"Respectfully sir, I don't think so." Jenkins began, "The Geth have been throwing everything they have at us to delay our progress, if they were already here and dug in, they would've had mounted weapons set up already. Plus they would have sprung their entire force on us at once, to ensure a kill, not this holding action."

Shepard considered that, "Good call Jenkins, we didn't come all this way to leave empty handed anyway, advance on the compound."

'Commander, I'm getting faint readings on the motion tracker from the compound. They are almost flickering in and out.' Wilco informed.

"Squad stay sharp, this feels like a trap." Shepard said..

'Signals jamming detected, sensors inoperable.'

"Ambush, take cover!" Shepard ordered. Pulse fire started filling up the air.

Shepard and Tali dove behind a container on the right, while Nihlus and Jenkins took cover on the left.

"Sensors are out, anyone get a good look at their numbers?" Shepard asked.

"They're too concealed Commander, but I count 8 different Pulse streams." Jenkins replied.

"Frag it, covering fire!." Shepard coalesced a biotic barrier and jumped from cover, firing at the geth positions, as the rest of the squad joined in. Within a few seconds the pulse fire stopped.

"I think we got them Commander." Tali said.

"Just wait for it." Shepard stated.

Nihlus sounded puzzled, "Wait for what?"

The scream of a huge engine roared over the area, the squad turned and saw a Geth frigate coming in for a run.

"That." Shepard explained, running back to cover.

As the geth ship slowed overhead, it dropped a dozen Geth infantry, and one of the large geth walkers before screaming off.

"Tali, can you disable that thing's cannon?" Shepard asked.

Tali activated her omni-tool, checking the settings, "I believe so Commander."

"Great, Jenkins, Nihlus, on 3 I'll draw fire, you two lay down fire, Tali get ready to disable the cannon."

"Three!" Shepard called out as he left cover and began firing. Tali sent an electrical burst from her omni-tool to the walker, disabling the main gun, then fired on the smaller geth.

Jenkins and Nihlus targeted the smaller geth as well, neutralizing them quickly.

Shepard steeled his mind. Gathering strength, visualizing a wave of force in his mind. He began to glow with Biotic power, the very air around him crackling with energy. The Geth walker shot into the air, twisting and smashing through the walls of the building beside it before exploding.

He smiled. 'That'll do.' He thought before turning back to his squad. "Come on, into the dig!"

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The interior of the mine was pitch black. Shepard switched his view to computer assisted. The area immediately came into clarity, the shaft was smaller than the outside collar, and went on for around 200 feet.

'Commander, sensors are still being jammed.' His AI informed him.

"Alright people, be careful, they're still jamming us. I'm on point."

As the squad came to the end of the shaft he was able to see further in, a large cavern criss-crossed by catwalks, with a buried building at the end, obviously prothean. An elevator shaft was further ahead from the entrance shaft, mounted to the wall.

Shepard spotted a patrol of three geth coming toward them from the elevator. They were easily seen even without computer assisted view, the beacons on their heads lighting them up.

He keyed his comm, "Tali, go get em'."

"Affirmative." Tali jumped up and grasped a ceiling pipe, mounting it and shimmying off.

He motioned for Jenkins and Nihlus to hold, waiting for Tali to make her move.

He zoomed in on the patrol, suddenly he saw Tali drop down behind the geth and fire her photon-shotgun, neutralizing the three before they had a chance to react.

"Impressive as always darling, alright squad form up." He ordered as he began to move toward the cargo elevator.
The elevator wasn't locked, they filed in and Shepard started the descent.

"It looks like there is an active energy field down there Commander." Jenkins said.

"We'll check it out then. See any activity?" Shepard responded.

"Negative Commander, I don't see any Geth on the ground level." Nihlus stated.

About halfway down the machinery began whining and creaking. The elevator seized about 3 feet above the landing, forcing Jenkins and Shepard to pry the doors open, allowing the squad to exit the elevator. The energy field lit up the entire landing.

"Commander, in there." Tali said, gesturing toward the Prothean structure.

Shepard walked over and saw another energy field inside, trapped in it was an Asari he recognized.
"You know, it seems every time we meet you're in some kind of trouble." He greeted.

"Captain Shepard? Is, is this a hallucination?" Liara T'Soni asked, shocked.

Shepard looked at her quizzically, "How long have you been stuck like that?"

"5 days? I think. When the Geth arrived I fled here to the tower and activated this barrier curtain, I must have triggered some kind of Prothean security device because the next thing I find I am trapped in this field." She answered.

"Don't worry, we'll get you out. Just have to figure a way past this barrier." Shepard assured her.

"Be careful, there is a Krogan with the Geth." Liara warned.

Shepard turned back to his squad, "Any ideas?"

"You can tell they weren't able to excavate the entire tower, you can see where they started on the next layer. From the look of the building there should be more 'cells' like that further down. Maybe we can use explosives to clear the passage?" Nihlus suggested.

Jenkins was leaning against the rail, looking out into the cavern, "Or we could use that mining energy-borer that's sitting right over there, perfectly positioned."

"That's convenient." Tali observed.

Nihlus looked, "The borer that several groups of Geth are using for cover?"

Shepard zoomed in on the area, "Yes, that energy-borer. Let's take em'."

Shepard jumped off the landing followed by the rest, landing on the cavern floor and moving toward the geth, firing.

By the time they reached the energy-borer they had eliminated the geth.

"That was easy, Tali, any idea how to operate one of these?" Shepard asked.

Tali activated her omni-tool and looked over the schematics, "This model is designed for use by untrained personnel, let me see if it already has a targeting solution and.. yes, activating borer."

A beam of energy poured out of the huge cylinder, punching through and vaporizing the rock.

Shepard moved into the passage, the air was superheated, but well within tolerances.

The center of the tower was a lift, Shepard pressed what he figured was the most likely candidate for 'up one floor' and the lift began to move. Thankfully the lift stopped at the next level, where Liara was held.

"Shepard, you were able to get past the barrier!" She exclaimed.

"Y'all had a energy-borer positioned perfectly to get into the next level of the tower." He replied.

"Yes, yes it makes sense that the barrier doesn't cover more than one level, the security panel on the wall is the control to shut down this security field." She stated.

Nihlus spoke, "Commander, her mother's a known traitor, should we trust her?"

"Benezia's a traitor? I haven't spoken to her in years!" Liara said.

"I believe her, shut down the field." Shepard stated, walking over toward her.

The field shut down, sending Liara crashing to the deck. Shepard extended his hand, helping her up.

"Any idea how we get back to the surface?" Tali asked.

"The lift should take us to the top level, where the mineshaft is." Liara answered.

As they reached the lift a tremor went through the cavern.

"Seismic activity. The energy-borer must have triggered an event." Liara stated.

'Perfect' He thought as the lift began to ascend.

The lift reached the top, waiting for them was a Krogan and several geth.

The Krogan stepped forward, "Surrender. Or don't, that would be more fun."

Shepard answered with weapon fire.

Two bursts and a biotic throw later, the traitorous Krogan was dead. The squad had neutralized the geth. Rocks and debris started falling and the cavern was rumbling.

"Dammit. Move it people, doubletime!" Shepard yelled.

About halfway to the mineshaft, the entire cavern was coming down in pieces. Shepard's squad were un-hindered in their armor, Liara wasn't so lucky. A rock bounced off her shoulders, sending her flying to the ground, unconscious.

Shepard saw this, "Squad keep moving, I'll get her." and ran back, picking her up and starting a run toward the mineshaft.

They made it out of the dig without any further issues. Shepard laid Liara down gently and did a bioscan.

'No permanent injuries Commander, however Doctor T'Soni is suffering from severe dehydration and starvation.' Wilco informed him.

"She'll be fine once we get her back to the ship." Shepard stated, picking her up.

"It's a ways back to the Makos, and then to a pickup site. Let's get moving." He ordered.

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They reached the Makos, Nihlus entered Mako 2 and the rest piled into Mako 1.

Shepard strapped Liara down on one of the benches before keying his comm, "Lieutenant, any problems out here?"

Alenko replied, "Not a thing sir, Pressly's already landed the Normandy and is waiting for us, they took out a second Geth ship while you were at the digsite."

"Good, move out." Shepard ordered.

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They arrived at the Normandy without incident. The squad dispersed, Shepard and Tali took Liara to the Infirmary, explaining everything to Doctor Chakwas.

Shepard led the way to the Commander's quarters. Once inside he hit the comm panel, "X/O, Nice shooting down there. We'll debrief in 30 minutes."

"Affirmative Commander, anything else?" Pressly replied.

Shepard looked over at Tali, already half stripped out of her armor, looking at him with a lustful expression on her face.

"Take us into orbit. Shepard out."

John tore off his armor as fast as humanly possible, dropping it haphazardly.

By the time he was done with everything above his waist, Tali was naked. She smiled seductively and slunk into the head.

He doubled his efforts.

By the time he had disrobed and entered the head, Tali was already in the shower stall and had the water running. John took a moment just to marvel at her beauty.

"Are you going to stand there staring or come in here and rut me senseless?" Tali teasingly asked.

"The latter." He replied, entering the stall and pressing himself against her.

He kissed her, reaching down and massaging her breasts.

Tali giggled, pulling away and placing her hands on the wall, bending down slightly.

"Take my ass, John."

He bent down over her, reaching down and sliding two fingers into her slit, covering them in her thick juices before penetrating her tight anus with them. Tali was almost purring for him.

"Tell me you want it pet." John whispered into her ear.

Tali moaned for him, "I need your cock in my tight quarian ass, please John."

He removed his fingers from her clenching hole and gently pressed his shaft against it, thrusting inside, bringing a groan from them both.

John began a thrusting motion, reaching down and playing with her slit, eliciting a cry from Tali. He knew he was close, her tight clenching ass around his shaft causing waves of pleasure.

John brought his hands up, grasping her breasts as he thrust faster. Tali's moaning reached a crescendo, she came hard, coating his thighs and sack with her juices.

Her ass going crazy around his shaft pushed John over the edge, he cried out her name as he spent inside her, filling her ass with his hot cum.

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"Do you like Dr, T'Soni John?" Tali asked as they were putting their uniforms back on.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, would you like her as a lover?" Tali explained.

John looked at her questioningly.

"I'm just trying to say, if you want her, go ahead. I knew what I was entering into when I gave myself to a Human Noble. If you want another female, take her." Tali finished.

"I don't know whether I want her or not. We only met briefly once before. I don't even know if she'd be interested." John replied.

Tali chuckled, "The Asari might like to claim that they're not really females but they react the same as any other. You saved her life, she'll feel she owes you. Just keep it in mind."

John hugged her to him, "I must have done something very very right in my life to be rewarded with such a wonderful mate."

"I love you too John, now I think we're already ten minutes late for the de-briefing." Tali replied.

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When Shepard and Tali reached the briefing room they saw that everyone was already there, even Liara. He saw Alenko and Jenkins look at each other, sharing a smirk. He glared.

"Alright, let's get this started. Liara, glad to see you're up and about." Shepard began.

"Thank you Commander. And thank you for rescuing me, all of you." Liara said.

"Down to business, you said back at the dig that you haven't spoken to your mother in years?"

"Yes Commander. Relations have always been.. strained between us. I find it hard to understand how she could betray the Empire, or what that has to do with the geth coming after me." Liara finished.

"Benezia has joined with Saren, he's a rogue Turian. A former Spectre, he's looking for a prothean artifact called the 'Conduit'." Shepard said.

"The Conduit? I've found references to it in my studies, but the only thing I know is that it's somehow connected to the Protheans and their disappearance. The last of the cycles." Liara answered.

"Cycle? What are you talking about?" Shepard asked.

"My research on the Protheans has led me to believe that they were not the first galactic civilization. That there were civilizations before them, and then more before them. Each civilization has reached a certain level of technology and then vanished. Leaving behind little but dust and questions. I am considered an outcast among most archaeologists for this but I am convinced it is true." Liara finished.

Shepard asked himself, 'Why is the most horrible possibility coming to mind?'

'Possibly because it makes complete sense.' Wilco responded.

"The Geth follow Saren because they believe he is the prophet for a race of hyper-advanced machines that exist to wipe out organic life. The Geth believe they destroyed the Protheans. A prothean beacon on Eden Prime burned a vision of that into my head. If your theory is correct.. this is unsettling." Shepard finished.

"Reapers.. yes that would explain everything. A machine race would be so methodical to wipe out nearly all traces of a foe. But a prothean beacon, and you were able to use it? I am.. amazed Shepard, a normal mind would have been utterly destroyed by that. You must be remarkably strong-willed." Liara stated.

"It would be best if you stayed with us for the time being. I doubt Saren would give up after a single attempt." Shepard said.

"Thank you Commander, I hope my knowledge of the Protheans will be useful later on. I do have some military training as well, I will not be useless in a fight." Liara replied, standing up.

"Welcome to the team Liara, anyone have any questions? No, dismissed." Shepard said.

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After everyone had left the room, Shepard input a command into the panel, locking the doors.

"Normandy, get me a line to Terra, code 447, Auth: romeo delta nine two."

"Affirmative Commander, opening secure channel."

The Vid screen flared to life, showing Captain Wolfsblood.

"Lord Shepard, this is a surprise sir." The man stated.

"I need to speak to Empress Sativia as soon as possible. I have some disturbing news."

"Understood my Lord, transferring you to the Empress's private line now. Clovis Wolfsblood out."

The screen immediately switched, showing the Empress sitting at a large desk. Her official office he presumed.

"My Empress, I have news of what I believe to be dire importance." He started.

"Proceed Spectre Shepard."

Shepard explained the situation, beginning with the geth's fanatical attempts to stop them from reaching the dig site, to Liara's theory of the extinction cycles.

"You believe these theories to be valid Spectre Shepard?" Empress Sativia inquired.

"I do. This is far too much of a coincidence otherwise. Our own studies have put the age of Citadel Station and the mass relays at hundreds of thousands, if not millions of years. This makes far too much sense. Even more than that, this is simply too horrifying a possibility not to consider." Shepard finished.

The Empress smiled at that, "Very true Cousin. Other races would discount this out of sheer terror. We Humans do not have that luxury. I shall instruct the Inquisition to investigate this with all available resources. As of now the Terran Empire is on a war footing. Thank you for informing me of this Cousin. Now I must attend to matters of state, continue with your mission Spectre."

--------------------------

Shepard wandered down to the Officer's mess, he saw Alenko sitting at a table, he grabbed a coffee from the carafe and sat with him.

"So Alenko, we haven't had a chance to talk lately. How are you holding up?" Shepard asked.

"Doing fine Commander. We're out here saving the galaxy, that's why I joined up. Well, that and the exotic women of course." Alenko responded.

"Really? Seems you've got your eye on something more domestic." Shepard commented.

Alenko sputtered, "Commander I--"

Shepard stopped him, "Alenko, it's fine. You and Williams make a good pair. This is a human ship, don't worry."

"I appreciate it, sir." Alenko replied.

"How's the crew doing with everything?" Shepard asked.

"They're excited. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. There's all kind of rumors floating around, even on a ship this small. Half of them are expecting a medal out of this mission." Alenko said.

"You never know, it might end up like that before it's over. Thanks Lieutenant, We'll talk later." Shepard said.

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Shepard found Tali in the Vehicle Bay that evening, talking animatedly with Mechanical Officer Valar'Ressk.
"Commander." The Quarian Mechanic greeted, saluting him.

"John, I was having Valar show me how to repair the vehicles. I've never worked on the Marine models before." Tali said.

Valar nodded, "They're subtly different from the Export models, just enough to mess with a delicate repair if you aren't familiar with both."

Before Shepard could say anything further, the voice of the Normandy came over the speakers, "Commander, Priority message from Arcturus, Red Clearance, your eyes only."

"Received Normandy, on my way to the Comm room." Shepard stated.

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Shepard got to the comm room in record time, locking the doors behind him.

"Normandy, put the message through." Shepard ordered.

The vid screen flared to life, showing a tall Human male in Inquisition cloths.

"Commander Shepard, small galaxy innit? I have urgent information for you concerning your mission." Inquisitor Dalton began.

"Quite, Inquisitor. What's the information?" Shepard replied.

"The Geth have launched a full scale offensive. We have Geth fleets hitting the Second and Third fleets near the Perseus Veil, and another fleet hitting Quarian holdings in the Armstrong Cluster. Force projections are twice what was anticipated, we don't know how they had so many ships in position without us seeing it. Regardless, the Inquisition believes this is a ploy. Just hours before they attacked, we lost contact with a colony in the Traverse, Feros, an Exo-Geni holding. Our last communications from the colony were reports of Geth." Dalton finished.

"Exo-Geni holding, geth attack, huge invasion to cover this up. I can already tell I'm going to hate this operation." Shepard stated.

"There's no telling what Exo-Geni was actually doing there, you know their reputation.
Be prepared for anything Commander. All other resources are tied up repelling the Geth, expect no reinforcements in the short term. Inquisitor Dalton out."

Shepard exited the Comm room and walked over to the galaxy map, "Pressly, set course for Feros, best speed."

"Affirmative Commander, projected transit time of four days at full cruise." Pressly replied.

Shepard scowled, sitting in the Command chair, "That will have to do."

He opened the ship-wide comm. "Crew, this is Commander Shepard." He paused for a small moment, thinking about what to say.

"As of 2100 hours ship's time, we are officially at war with the Geth. They have attacked the Second and Third fleets along the Veil, and are penetrating into the Traverse and the Armstrong Cluster. There are no further reports at this time. Remember your station, remember our duty." Shepard closed the comm.

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End of Chapter Five.