Disclaimer: I do not own either or both Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Mass Effect. They are owned by Yoshiki Tanaka and Bioware respectively.

The Lion Unleashed

Chapter 5

Imperial Capital Fezzan: heart of the Galactic Empire and the only other planet in the galaxy that dares challenge Thessia's claim as the Crown Jewel of the Known Universe. Quite the claim, considering Fezzan has only been settled for a few centuries, and whose natural resources aren't particularly special (though the planet's population exceeds that of Thessia by half a billion people).

It is, however, relatively-central to the warp routes that entangle two galactic arms, and stretching out along the galactic rim and core spread thinly across the galactic disk. The same could be said for its position in the galaxy-wide hyperspace communications network, making it more analogous to the Citadel than to Thessia. And of course, it is the central hub for the Galactic Empire's fleets, with only Odin and Heinessen approaching the number and strength of station fleets present, and is also the biggest shipbuilding center in the Galactic Empire.

Thus, despite (unofficial) grumbling and many (official) academic arguments on how Thessia is the 'true' Crown Jewel of the Known Universe, Humans are more likely to look to their capital in contrast to such.

At this time, on May 02nd New Imperial Calendar 31, an Imperial troopship was docking at Fezzan Orbital Station. Here was yet another source of pride for Humans in general, that of Fezzan boasting an orbital elevator, a truly titanic achievement of engineering that had never before been attempted by any one of the Citadel races (though the Salarians were currently in the middle of constructing one of their own on their homeworld). And one that would be joined by two others in the near future, all of which would be linked together by nothing less than an orbital ring, to relocate nearly all shipbuilding and fleet basing capabilities to orbit from the ground, and would further maximize the amount of space available for such.

Slowing to a halt in its allotted dock, clamps extended to and attached themselves to the troopship's hull, before boarding tubes extended to and attached themselves to the ship's airlocks. Aboard the ship, Imperial soldiers gathered their belongings and orderly made their way to the airlocks, their officers and NCOs giving last minute orders and reminders to their men as they went.

Lieutenant-Commander Felix Mittermeier did so for his battalion, and was among the last to disembark from the troopship. Making his way through the boarding tube and through decontamination, he exited into the terminal, filled with uniformed soldiers and casually or not so-casually dressed civilians come to meet them.

"Felix!" a woman's voice shouted, and recognizing it Felix turned to look in its direction. "Felix! Over here, Felix!"

Smiling, Felix walked over to where a blonde young woman in modest urban clothing was cheerfully waving at him with a matching smile. "Serafina!" Felix greeted his sister with a hug. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise, big brother." Serafina Mittermeier said with a grin. "We all heard about the incident in the Exodus Starzone, and while we know you made it through in one piece, well…seeing is believing."

Felix laughed. "That it is." He agreed. "Sorry for having worried you, to say nothing of mom and dad. Speaking of which…where are they?"

"Ah," Serafina said, looking apologetic. "Sorry, but mom had to go to the hospital today. Nothing serious, just a checkup for her condition. You know how it is…"

Serafina trailed off, looking faintly concerned. Felix didn't blame her for it, whether for being concerned…and for feeling guilty for being the cause of their mother's chronic illnesses. Evangeline Mittermeier had had difficulty conceiving a child for a long time, and indeed, Felix's adoption had been thought of in the past as the only way she and her husband could have a child.

Eventually however, they had conceived a child, though the pregnancy was difficult, and Serafina's birth had nearly killed her mother through an unexpected hemorrhage in the aftermath. And even though Evangeline had survived, the doctors said she could not expect to have another child in the future.

Of course, neither Evangeline nor her husband Wolfgang Mittermeier had blamed their daughter for such hardship and cost. And neither had her birth changed how they treated their adopted son, and they loved and raised their children with equal care and affection between them. Felix of course, loved his sister as she deserved.

Serafina though, had always felt guilty over putting her mother through such hardship, no matter how much her parents said she had nothing to feel guilty over. It wasn't something that was a particularly defining part of her character, but something that was a part of her background regardless.

Ironically, it was similar to a twist in her brother's relationship with their parents. Their father, Wolfgang, had hoped and planned for Felix to take up his birth father's surname 'Reuenthal' on his majority, but those plans would be sunk by Felix himself. While Felix had nothing against his birth father, he felt abandoning the name he grew up with to be ungrateful to his adopted parents, and no matter how much their father tried to convince him, Felix simply refused to stop being Felix Mittermeier.

In another twist of irony, Wolfgang had resignedly remarked such stubbornness would have amused and impressed the late Oskar von Reuenthal in equal measure.

"I see." Felix said. "Should we meet them there, then?"

Serafina shook her head. "No," she said. "We have reservations at a seafood restaurant downtown. Mom and dad will meet us there, though we'll have to take the express train down the elevator."

"…I assume you've made reservations for the train as well?"

Serafina scoffed. "Of course I did." She said. "Come on, we'll pick up your luggage, and then we can get to the train. We still have a half-hour before the express train leaves, but let's not dawdle."

Smiling at his sister's taking the lead, Felix just nodded and followed in her wake.

"Felix!"

"Your Majesty." Felix said with a salute. Emperor Alexander Siegfried raised an eyebrow at his friend's response, then smirking returned the salute. And then lowering his hand, extended it to Felix, who took and shook it with a smile. Alex's smile widened and he patted Felix on the arm.

"Now that the formalities are dealt with," he began. "I suppose we can speak freely."

"…I suppose we should…Alex." Felix said, and Alex laughed.

"That's better." The Emperor said while leading the way to the couch and armchairs in the middle of the room. "This is a private meeting, so there's no reason for us to be too formal with each other."

"True…speaking of which, how's Galatea?" Felix asked as he followed the Emperor.

Alex sat down on the couch, and gestured for Felix to do likewise opposite him. Felix bowed and sat down, even as a manservant brought coffee and pastries for them both. "Galatea's fine." Alex said. "Unfortunately, she had a pressing engagement today, so she couldn't join us. Duty calls, and all that."

"Of course," Felix said with a nod. "I completely understand. Shame though…it's rare for the three of us to have some time together these days."

Alex nodded while pouring milk into his coffee. "It really is." He agreed. "Makes me wish things were back the way they used to be, when we were younger and we didn't have to worry about the galaxy around us."

"True," Felix said, taking his coffee and taking a drink, preferring his coffee black. "But…we had to grow up eventually."

Alex nodded, and for a time the two friends just sat in silence. "What do you think about the incident over at Eden Prime, and what it bodes for the future?" Alex eventually said. "I've received and looked over the official reports, as has the rest of the OKK. Hell, we've even introduced official responses over it and the resulting uproar…but as someone who was on the ground and stood on the frontlines during said incident, I want to hear your thoughts on the matter."

Felix took another drink before responding, and replacing his coffee cup on its saucer as he did so. "Well, for starters I'm no flag officer who has what he needs to be able to have any big thoughts on the big picture," he began.

"But?" Alex prompted.

"My instincts tell me this is bigger than it looks." Felix said. "Maybe it's because I've just fought a battle against genocidal AIs and seen up close a…ship, that dwarfs the biggest ships in the Citadel and Imperial Fleets, but…"

Alex nodded slowly as Felix trailed off. "The OKK is in agreement." He said. "We still don't know the details, but generally-speaking, whatever Saren is up to isn't going to be in the galaxy's – much less Humanity's – best interests. And we have to stop him before he can finish whatever it is he's started."

"He didn't say anything that might indicate what he's after." Felix said with narrowed eyes. "But, he did access that Prothean device we were studying on Eden Prime. No doubt, it's connected to them, and considering what the Protheans were capable of…"

Alex nodded. "The Citadel races aren't even close to our league." He said. "The Protheans though…"

Alex paused and took a deep breath, before taking a drink of his coffee. "From what we know of them," he said. "The Protheans might have posed a credible threat to the empire. And given Saren's also demonstrated himself an enemy of Humanity, or indeed, of the galaxy as a whole, considering how he's somehow managed to acquire the assistance and support of the Geth, well…"

"As you said, we have to stop him." Felix said.

Alex nodded. "We have a few clues as to what he's going to do next, and where." He said. "Already, the OKK is assembling a task force to follow them up. It'll be small, a squadron of four hundred ships, including infantry support, along with operational leeway to request the assistance of existing expeditionary forces in the Hinterland."

"You want my battalion to be part of said task force." Felix said. It wasn't a question.

"It's not a matter of favoritism." Alex said. "You and your men are the best assault units we have available. Men and women who can be trusted to spearhead assaults on the hottest zones of enemy activity on the ground, and come out on top with minimal casualties and collateral damage. And from what we can tell, what the task force will be going into will involve ground combat more than it would space combat."

"…area denial, in short." Felix said, and Alex nodded.

"Precisely," he said. "And of course, to gather useful intelligence on the ground on what Saren's after, and how he managed to get as far as he has without getting noticed."

"It certainly doesn't bode well that we missed him getting ready for all the stuff he's pulled so far." Felix said.

"No, it doesn't." Alex agreed.

"But there will be space combat," Felix said. "Not much, but there will be."

"Of course," Alex said with a nod. "The presence of the Geth forces in space at Eden Prime is proof of that. Hence why a naval squadron will be the heart of the task force, and provision will be made for expeditionary fleets to render aid as needed. But ultimately your mission generally is to neutralize whatever assets the enemy has gathered and prepared, for what Intelligence has determined to be a prelude for a bigger offensive by Geth forces from the Perseus Veil."

"…yes, that fits." Felix said with a slow nod. "Saren's just a vanguard…but why an organic?"

"That'll be part of what the task force needs to find out." Alex said. "So…can I trust you and your men in this?"

Felix smirked. "Of course you can." He said. "We're the Steel Wolves. We find a way where others can't, and when we find the enemy, we bite down and don't let go until they're down for good."

"Good," Alex said with a nod and a smile. "That's just the attitude that's needed for the spearhead of the task force's ground units. You'll receive the details in the next few days…commander."

"…a promotion?"

"A battalion is too small to serve as a proper spearhead." Alex said. "There is strength in numbers, which is why the Steel Wolves will be expanded into a full brigade."

"Isn't a brigade command a position for a captain?" Felix asked.

"It is." Alex said with a nod. "But there's no ground captain which the OKK can recognize as having the experience and background capable of assuming the role of the 51st's CO. Especially as they'll have to bring up reinforcement personnel's standards up to that of the original battalion. But you do, as the commander of the original battalion. However, a lieutenant-commander in command of a brigade is problematic and unheard of…"

Felix chuckled. "Bureaucracy is like a black hole, huh?" he asked.

"It is." Alex said with a chuckle of his own. "But it's one we can't get away from. Without it, nothing would get done. Slow going is better than no going at all."

"True…"

"A commander as CO of a brigade has precedent," Alex continued. "Though with regard to those precedents, they all ended up promoted to captain soon after."

"Looks like I'll have to prove myself, then." Felix said with another chuckle. "Oh well, it's not like it's something I'm not used to in any case."

"That it isn't." Alex agreed, and the two friends shared a laugh.

"It'll be a few days before it becomes official," Felix said with a determined expression on his face. "But even now, I'll tell you this: you won't regret your confidence in me, Alex."

Alex nodded. "I know I won't." he said. "Now, enough about that. Let's talk about other things…"

"What did His Majesty want to talk about?" Evangeline 'Eva' Mittermeier asked as she placed the dinner casserole on the table.

"Basically, he wanted to know my thoughts on the Eden Prime incident." Felix answered.

Wolfgang and Eva looked at each other at that. "And?" Wolfgang asked.

"I told him what I thought." Felix said. "That it was bigger than it seemed, that it was more than just a raid on a backwater world which just happened to have an archaeological find dating back to the only civilization greater than our own."

Wolfgang hummed while crossing his arms over his chest. "And then what happened?" he asked.

"Alex said he'd be recommending my unit to join the task force to be sent to hunt down the man behind the attack, Saren Arterius."

"Then," Eva said while opening a bottle of red wine, and beginning to pour for her son and husband. "You'll be heading out soon?"

"It hasn't been made official yet, but it probably will happen in a few days." Felix said. "Though Alex didn't say when exactly, whether the official organization, or the dispatch itself."

Wolfgang hummed. "We've been hearing rumors about that dispatch over at the association for a while now." He said. "Well, there was never any doubt about it happening, and that it would be a rather…delicate, operation."

"That's what Alex told me." Felix said with a nod. "It's basically an area denial and intelligence gathering mission, albeit with provision being made for possible escalation."

Wolfgang nodded. "That makes sense." He said. "From what's filtered over at the association, we don't really know where to send a full fleet, or what to do with one. Well, an assault into the Perseus Veil could be done, but to what end? And the supply lines for such an operation would be intolerably long."

"Even for the empire containment really is the only strategy against the Geth, is it?" Felix asked while taking a roll of bread from the basket on the table.

"Given the relative position of the empire and Geth space, yes it is." Wolfgang said.

"But," Eva began. "I'm not trying to imply anything here Felix, but given your and His Majesty's friendship, won't his recommendation for your unit to join the task force be seen as a case of favoritism? I'm just being concerned here, that's all."

"Alex mentioned that." Felix said with a nod. "He then said that given the Steel Wolves' reputation, it shouldn't really be an issue."

"That's certainly true." Wolfgang said with a smile. "After everything your unit's pulled off in the war with the Hegemony and the various counterinsurgency operations in the Hinterland, I wouldn't be surprised if you were a match for the Alliance's old Rosen Ritter regiment."

"…thanks, dad." Felix said with a smile.

Wolfgang raised a hand. "It's not flattery." He said. "It's the truth."

"I know dad, and thanks again."

Wolfgang nodded. "I also heard though that the Steel Wolves would be expanded to a full brigade." He said. "What does that mean for the future of your command?"

"Oh that," Felix said with a sigh. "Alex said that since there's no one else who can be trusted to command the Steel Wolves – in particular training reinforcement personnel up to our standards – and that it's unprecedented for a lieutenant-commander to command a brigade, I'd be getting promoted to commander."

"Hmm…it's a great honor and a great responsibility." Wolfgang said with a nod. "Do your best, Felix."

"Of course I will." Felix said a nod.

"That said," Eva began. "Don't push yourself too much either, Felix. If you ever start getting overwhelmed, take a chance to step back, breathe, and think."

Wolfgang nodded in agreement. "It's good advice." He said. "Getting fixated and trying to do everything at once will only invite mistakes and problems further down the line."

"I understand." Felix said with a nod. "And I'll be sure to take it to heart."

Wolfgang nodded, and then reaching forward began to ladle some of Eva's dinner casserole on his plate. "I'm sure that's not all you and His Majesty talked about either though." Eva said as she too took a roll of bread from her basket.

"Hmm?" Felix hummed as he chewed on bread, and then hurriedly swallowed. "Well, no. We also talked about…"

The Directorate of Imperial Intelligence is as its name indicates the branch of the Imperial government tasked with gathering information on external threats to the empire, and providing possible countermeasures to be implemented thereof. Founded from a number of disparate and at times, contradictory organizations that preceded it by then-Imperial Chancellor Ernest Mecklinger, it was established in June of New Imperial Calendar 19.

Based in a modest skyscraper in the New Imperial City (with an openly-secret underground complex housing large computer servers and other facilities), Imperial Intelligence is a cabinet-level organization, its director answering directly to the Imperial Chancellor and requiring confirmation of their appointment by the Emperor before they can assume office. Beneath the director were the section heads, of which there are six.

The first is the Section of Internal Affairs, which is primarily tasked with identifying and neutralizing foreign intelligence operatives inside Imperial territory. Another one of its tasks is to protect Imperial Intelligence itself from infiltration, and to secure its databases from unauthorized access. In such roles, it cooperates heavily with the Ministry of Justice's Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), as Imperial Intelligence's charter greatly limits its ability to act within Imperial territory. Indeed, it could be said that Section One primarily secures Imperial Intelligence's assets, and largely provides information to the ISB on foreign intelligence operatives and their activities, with the ISB handling actual fieldwork with regard to such individuals and their operations.

The second is the Section of Operations. It is the largest component of Imperial Intelligence, and is the one tasked with the primary goal of the organization: information gathering. It is further divided into two offices, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Human Intelligence (HUMINT). SIGINT as its name indicates gathers information based on intercepted signals, be they diplomatic, military, or civilian in nature, on the communications buoy network, or as that is slowly phased out in Citadel Space (less so in the Hinterland), the hyperspace communications network. HUMINT in contrast gathers information from actual field agents on the ground across the galaxy, ranging from trained agents that are part of the organization itself, to informers on the street with little to no knowledge to whom they provide information to. They also acquire information from (or at times, even provide) brokers across the galaxy.

The third is the Section of Analysis. As its name indicates, this section is tasked with analyzing all the relevant information gathered by Section Two, and to draw up hypothesis, further investigate them, and then provide conclusions based on their activities. They also prepare follow-up measures, recommendations, and anything else that might be asked for in response to Section Two's gathered information.

The fourth is the Section of Correction. Smaller than the other sections, it is asked with organizing and overseeing black-ops missions and operations for the Galactic Empire, in cooperation with the Imperial Fleet. Or at times, by making use of third-party organizations, usually through an intermediary that can be used as a convenient scapegoat should it prove necessary.

The fifth is the Section of Recruitment. As its name indicates, its purpose is the recruitment and training of new members of Imperial Intelligence. Section Five also oversees the promotion and reassignments of members between sections and offices, up to the deputies of the section heads. And while section heads themselves are appointed by the director, they must do so based on the recommendations of Section Five. Only the appointment of the director themselves is not partly-overseen by Section Five.

The sixth and final section of Imperial Intelligence is the Section of Cyber Operations. As its name indicates, Section Six is tasked with gathering, monitoring, and if necessary, controlling information and the like on the extranet. And should it prove necessary, Section Six is also tasked with responding – at times in kind – to cyber-attacks made against the empire from the outside. Somewhat controversial due to its responsibilities seemingly overlapping with those of other sections, it is nevertheless an important part of Imperial Intelligence.

It was on the morning of May 05th that Director Harper received a report from his subordinates regarding a possible Specter deployment by the Citadel Council on a matter that overlapped with Imperial interests. That clearly made it a matter of significance, even more as the Specters' authority was not recognized in the empire.

In a matter of significant galactic controversy, the empire refused to allow Specters to operate freely in their territory, even going so far as to arrest those caught doing so in the early days of the Empire-Hegemony War. Most went quietly, and in a gesture of peace, were pardoned by the Emperor of the charges of spying and other such charges that would normally have seen them shot by firing squad.

Mostly: one Tela Vasir refused to be taken in, and after days of causing trouble – and inflicting considerable casualties on pursuing military policemen – was killed when the ship she was attempting to escape on was blown apart by naval artillery. This caused a diplomatic fallout with the Asari Republics and the Citadel Council, but the empire was unapologetic, and with the Empire-Hegemony War clearly demonstrating without a doubt the difference in power between the empire and the species that made up the Council, the matter was grudgingly let go by Vasir's backers.

Making the controversy over the empire's refusal to acknowledge Specters' authority more inflammatory was that a number of individuals and organizations in Citadel Space actually and openly support such a position, and indeed, have further added fuel to the controversy by arguing for increased specification and definition of the heretofore vaguely-defined, effectively-unlimited, and unsupervised power of the Specters. The most vocal of such individuals was none other than Executor Pallin of Citadel Security (C-SEC), which in addition to providing law enforcement on the space station, held investigative authority and considerable judicial weight across Citadel Space. Indeed, within the Turian Hierarchy many elements agreed or just sympathized with the empire on the matter, and while recognizing the Specters' value and past contributions to galactic society, called for them to be reined in.

This naturally led to accusations that said individuals and organizations had been influenced by the empire in some ways, and which were of course indignantly refuted by said individuals and organizations. That C-Sec and the ISB had a good record of inter-investigatory and joint operations between them did not help matters any, as many took it as proof of the empire's influence.

As of this moment though, Director Harper was reviewing a report provided by Sections Two and Three that the Citadel Council was planning on dispatching a Specter or two to hunt down Saren Arterius. All well and good, except that the empire wanted Saren too. While the empire was willing to allow the treacherous Turian to be tried in a Citadel court (preferably with a Turian judge as they tended to be more…trustworthy, than the Asari or even the Salarians), that did not mean they should not do anything to take Saren into custody themselves. Indeed, the Imperial Fleet was already preparing a task force to do just that, considering the attack on Eden Prime had demonstrated that Saren was more than just a rogue operative.

Not when he had the support of the Geth, up to and including a force of ships of his own.

"Oriana," Director Harper told his secretary. "Tell Chief Diemer we have to implement Echo Five with regard to the Arterius situation. And tell him that I want a status update on my desk by this evening."

"Yes, sir, right away."

A/N

You didn't actually think this was dead, did you?

Now you know why Felix didn't take up the Reuenthal name, just like Mittermeier wanted him to. He simply finds it too…ungrateful, if he were to just abandon their name. Naturally, his adopted father finds it exasperating (and suspects his best friend is laughing with amusement in Valhalla).