Chapter 1

"How bad is it" Anderson asked.
"Bad we've just lost contact with two of our deep space outposts. There's something massive on the long range scanners." Hackett informed him.
"Is this what Shepard warned us about" Anderson asked.
"I'd stake my life on it, I've sent word the fleets are mobilizing" Hackett said.
"God help us all" Anderson said.

John was standing by the window watching a kid play around outside when James walked in.
"Commander we gotta go" he said saluting Shepard.
"Your not suppose to call me that anymore" John said following James out of the room.
"Not suppose to salute you either" James said as they continued walking.
"What's going on" John asked James noticing all of the personnel scrambling around.
"They didn't say, just told me they needed you" he answered.
Upon turning the corner they ran into Anderson.
"Shepard" he yelled out shaking John's hand.
"Anderson" he said "what's going on why's everyone in such a hurry" John asked.
"Something bigs headed our way, Hackett's mobilizing the fleets" he informed him.
"It's the reapers isn't it" John said.
"We don't know that" Anderson replied.
"What else could it be, the reapers are here and we're far from ready" John said following Anderson up the steps
"Let's go and see the committee" Anderson said.
"Unless we're planning on talking the reapers to death the committee is a waste of time" he said as Anderson went on ahead he stayed behind to talk to James for a moment.
"Get a message to Joe, tell him It's time, be ready" John said turning as his name was called by a familiar voice.
"Ashley"he said walking over to her holding back from pulling her into his arm's as their relationship was still not allowed due to alliance regulations.
"Shepard" she said looking at him with mixed feelings.
"Congratulations on the promotion, it would of been nice to hear it from you though" he said.
"Yeah sorry about that" she said looking away.
"It's ok Ash, I'm just glad your ok" he said
"Shepard, come on" Anderson said as they walked to the room.
"Good luck in there Shepard" Ashley said as he turned and gave her a nod and a smile.
"You know the commander", James asked her walking over.
"I don't know anymore, how do you know him" she asked James.
"I know his brother" James said smiling.
"Oh god, the psychopath, is he here" Ashley said looking around in fear of being yelled at for not giving John a hug and a kiss.
"No, but I got a feeling he'll be around soon" James said giving her a disturbing grin.

John looked over the data pads placed in his hands.
"You've brought me here to confirm what you already know, the reapers are here" he said as everybody began chattering nervously.
"What do we do" one of the admirals said.
"We fight or we die, don't pity them they won't pity you." He said.
"That's it, what are we suppose to do with that" another admiral said outraged at the lack of intel.
"Well I would of had more for you if you hadn't grounded me remember" he said folding his arms.
"Sir we just lost contact with Lunar Base" an analyst informed Anderson.
"The moon are they that close" Anderson said as they looked up to see a reaper ship lining up a shot on the room.
"MOVE" John yelled running to get out of the way as the blast knocked him into a bench.
Anderson helped him up and handed him a pistol as they made their way out of the room, running across the rooftops trying to get in contact with the Normandy. They fought their way through husks encountering a new species they called cannibals.
"That's what happened to the batarians" Anderson asked firing from cover.
"Yeah, now you understand why I blew up that relay, that'll be us soon if we can't stop this" John said using incineration attacks on the cannibals.
They were almost out of ammo when the Normandy pulled in to rescue them. John jumped on board beckoning Anderson to follow.
"Come on", he yelled to him.
"I'm not going, you see those men down there, they need a leader",Anderson yelled to him.
"I'm not leaving without you Anderson" John said.
"Yes you are, get to the citadel we need help, get the council to send aid, we need every race and their fleets, get it done John" Anderson said.
"I don't take orders from you anymore remember" John said looking Anderson in the eyes.
"Consider yourself reinstated" Anderson said throwing John his dog tags.
"I'll be back for you Anderson and I'll bring all the help I can, good luck" John said as Anderson turned and ran off.
As they were pulling out John saw some survivor's boarding shuttles, he then saw the little boy who played outside of his window looking frightened climbing on board a shuttle. As the shuttle pulled off it was immediately destroyed by the reapers making John close his eyes and shake his head before walking off face contorted with rage.

Down in the shuttle bay John was checking his weapons as Vega began ranting asking a million questions.
"What's going on , where's Anderson" he asked.
"He stayed behind, he wants us to go to the citadel and get help for the fight" John said still fixing his weapons trying to shake off what just happened.
"Bullshit he wouldn't tell us to leave, let me off-" he got cut off by an angry John.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND STAND DOWN, YOU THINK I WANNA LEAVE, YOU THINK I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT, WE'LL BE KILLED IN MINUTES YOU STUPID IDIOT GET OUT OF MY FACE BEFORE I HAVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAMS LOCK YOU IN THE BRIG" John yelled releasing all of his pent up rage on James.
"Maldito cobarde ( coward bastard )" James said walking away.
"Sé lo que me llamó teniente, ¿quieres volver y decir a la cara ( I know what you called me lieutenant, you wanna come back and say it to my face )" John said turning and smirking at him "Did I forget to mention I spoke perfect Spanish" he informed the stunned lower ranking officer.
"Ash, escort James out of my shuttle bay before I help him off my ship" John said as Joker informed him that admiral Hackett wanted to speak to him. Hackett told John to head to Mars and retrieve Liara, he believed that Liara found a weapon to defeat the reapers.
"What does he expect us to find down there", Ashley asked.
"I don't know, but I hope it's worth the detour, Anderson and those guys won't last too long down there without help" he replied putting on his armor.