hello and welcome back to the last chapter of V.B.

Thank you to those who Reviewed, followed or favorited.

Sorry it's late as I've been ill, getting constant headaches and to top it off going back to college.

Note:

HI means Holographic Interface.

GDV means Galactic Defence Vessel.

~ Anyway I don't own mass effect, obviously. ~

Zaire Shepard sighed and swiped at the HI, book marking her progress and shutting itself down.

"10 minutes to the Omega 4 relay, Shepard."

"Thank you, EDI" she replied.

Getting up and leaving her room, Shepard got into the elevator and hit the marker for the CIC. As the elevator slowly made its way to the command deck, Shepard wondered what changes would have been made to the Core System since she had last seen it, 5 months earlier.

The elevator opened and Shepard walked out, nodding at her yeoman, she headed towards the cockpit. As she neared however she managed to catch the end of Joker talking to EDI.

"-you physically around."

"It will be an interesting experience."

"What will be an interesting experience?" Asked Shepard, reaching Jokers chair.

"Didn't you hear Commander? EDI is getting a physical body given to her."

"Really?"

"yes, R&D developed a new infiltration mech, and they have asked me to test it."

"Wonder what else I've missed while away."

"... She wasn't kidding about the Dreadnaughts?" Stated Shepard, standing in port observation.

"Nope, welcome back Shepard." Replied Joker over the intercom.

To Shepard, the Core System had changed exponentially since her suicide run. From what she could tell, a path had been made through the debris field using powerful Mass Barrier Sheilds, creating a lane of clear space to travel through.

The 4 dry-dock space stations appeared to have been expanded in size and been tied together in a loose circle that slowly rotated.

Finally there were the research bases, spheres that were tethered to the collector base, all eight of them. Shepard smiled, they were making ground breaking progress week by week. The combined think tank of Geth/Quarian, Salarian, Asari, Human and Turian scientists were astronomical.

The only issues were upgrading something once, as they discovered, upgrading armour 10 times a month is difficult and resource draining.

Ship building was also a difficult project, though easier than expected. Due to the Quarians, they were efficiently stripping and recycling ship hulls, thanks to the Geth, they were being put together into one design, and being crewed by multiple species trained in flexible combat doctrines.

'All to stop inter-galactic death dealing God machines.' Thought Shepard approvingly.

"Well?" Asked Liara, also grinning at Shepard's expression.

"I thought we all agreed that Dreadnoughts were ineffectual against Sovereign class Reapers."

"We do, however these ones are more akin to Humanities Carriers than Turian Dreadnoughts."

"What do they carry then, Bombers?"

"No, heavy frigates, equipped with both a Particle Accelerator and Thanix Cannons. They also act as mobile command and refuel stations, so that moving ships can refuel on the go."

"There is one named after each Director" she added.

"And this is why you are the brains and I'm the muscle."

Liara blushed, before replying "i believe that the human saying is, 'you sell yourself short'".

Zaire Shepard grinned before closing in on the asari, the kiss was short but passionate, before they turned to look at their handy work.

"So, which one is named after me?" Asked Shepard.

"The GDV Unstoppable Force."

Council Chamber

Z.S - [calm] They are coming Admiral, death comes for us all sooner or later, I simply delayed it, whether you like it or not.

J.M - [tells guards][flustered] Take her back to her back to her room!

The Holo stilled, before switching to a picture of the forces that were engaged on the roof by Alliance forces.

"The Shadow Broker has been ignoring our attempts at talking" stated councillor Vallern.

Councillor Tevos shivered slightly, "If Shepard has the Shadow Broker on her side, along with Cerberus, she has become far more deadly."

Councillor Sperartus grunted, "The Krogan have been shifting to a war footing under Shepard's old mercenary friend Urnot Wrex."

At that statement the whole council chamber dropped several degrees.

"Omega has gone silent as well." Added Vallern.

Tevos frowned at that, she had attempted to talk to Aria to see if she recognized themercenary who helped Shepard, but she had received no answer.

"STG?" She asked.

Vallern shook his head, "nothing".

"She was taunting us in the interview yes but we are missing two important moments." Councillor Udina spoke for the first time that meeting.

"Which are?" Asked Sperartus.

"The Batarians, and this GSF she called herself a Director of."

"The Batarians are of some serious concern, they have been completely silent for months and with the disappearance of Shepard there is no real diplomatic solution, yet they have not attacked the Alliance." Noted Tevos.

"GSF May not be as far fetched as originally thought." Added Vallern.

"What?" Exclaimed Sperartus.

"Some known Shadow Broker forces disappearing, and reappear wearing black armour with green highlights. Cerberus removed multiple cells 7 months ago and rumour is the Illusive Man was compromised by 'Alien Influence' and his Lieutenant Miranda Lawson has taken his place."

"And?" prompted Tevos.

"Quarian Migrant Fleet disappeared 8 months ago, near Geth border after recalling those on pilgrimage. Admiral Tali'Zora was said to be in heavy discussion with the admirality board." Continued the Salarian councilor. "Omega is in the same system as the Omega-4 relay, home of the Collectors."

Udina, sighed, "please get to the point Vallern."

Vallern just blinked once before replying. "Shepard crossed Omega relay and stopped Collectors, took system for her base of operations, hence collector tech. Omega is used as forward operating base, and resource attainment. Krogan excellent ground troops and shock troops, with Shadow Broker and Cerberus special forces for covert assignments. Shadow Broker has an extensive intelligence network to be used. Cerberus resources for R&D purposes. Quarians have largest navy and Shepard has the best and most secure relay in the galaxy."

The silence in the chamber was deafening to the other three councilors.

"Are you ... suggesting that Shepard has access to an Army, Navy and intelligence network capable of rivaling parts of this council?" Stuttered Tevos.

Councillor Vallern nodded "very likely. Will have STG start gearing up to war status."

"I will notify the Primarch and suggest an increase in ship building." Stated Sperartus.

"I will notify the Council of Matriarchs, though I imagine they will be reluctant to deploy asari commandos."

Udina grunted and gruffly stated "the Alliance navy was already building up for the Batarians, we will help however we can."

"Then we best end this session to communicate with our respective governments."

The four Councilors all turned and left, all feeling that something was going on, and that Shepard was at the heart of it.

This is the end of V.B thank you to all those who Reviewed.

This was ment to be a quick one shot, but its somehow turned into this.

Anyway I'm working on a new story now as well. I watched Hitman Agent 47. So my next story is going to be a bit of a crossover.

So, thank you for reading.

~JunkMailk