Act I Scene I

Chapter One
Setting the Stage

"In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient space-faring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time. They called it the greatest discovery in human history.

The civilizations of the galaxy call it... MASS EFFECT."

Mass Effect Game intro, by Drew Karpyshin

Jump Zero
20 November 2183
Alliance Ambassador
William Bracken's Office

"Well, what about Beckett?" Ambassador Bracken asked. "She's Earth-born, raised on the streets. Her name sounds familiar but I don't see a record of her family."

"She doesn't have one, her mother was a civil rights attorney, killed, in the crossfire of a gang turf war," Captain Roy Montgomery said, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice, "father drank himself to death. She learned how to look after herself at age nineteen."

"She started in the criminal investigation division, but proved herself during the blitz," Admiral Hackett said coolly. "Took command of what was left of the garrison and held off enemy forces on the ground until reinforcements arrived, repelled the last wave almost single-handed."

Montgomery nodded in agreement. "She's the only reason Elysium is still standing."

"Can't question her courage," Bracken agreed, though her name still sounded vaguely familiar.

"Humanity needs a hero, and Beckett's the best we've got," Montgomery said, his chest puffed out with pride at his protege.

"I'll make the call," Bracken said.

Alliance Colony
Eden Prime
25 November 2183
21:00 hours

It had started off as a routine patrol.

Gunnery Chief Richard Castle had been itching to get off base for days, consumed by curiosity about the Prothean dig site. He'd peppered the scientists with questions almost daily, his own enthusiasm for the project having long since become infectious among the men and women of his squad.

That was before they got jumped by the Geth. After three hundred years in self imposed exile behind the Perseus Veil, it boggled his mind why they would choose to come all the way to Eden Prime to start a war.

The first two salvos of heavy weapons fire had taken out both their MACO and the troop transport, then the battle quickly degenerated into a running gunfight just to hold them off while the 226 evacuated the civilians at the dig site. He'd split his unit, the 4th of the 212 into two groups, one along the outer perimeter and the other falling back as a tripwire force to protect the civilian evacuation. His orders were to hold the Geth here at all costs for as long as possible.

His comm officer, Private Bhatia had just gotten the extranet comm gear set up before the Geth hit them again.

"Get down!" he shouted, but an incoming round splattered her brains across his armor before he could react. He swallowed hard and patched his own helmet mic into the system.

"Gunnery Chief Richard Castle 4th of the 212 to any Alliance vessel in range! We are under attack and taking heavy casualties! I repeat heavy Casualties!"

He grunted as explosive rounds went off nearby and continued as he returned fire, "We can't hold them! We need fire support and immediate evac, call-sign broken arrow! We need..."

He was cut off when a noise like rending metal screamed in his head, from which he was the first to recover, noting the comm gear had been smashed. He couldn't be sure if the transmission got out, and with the rest of his squad dead, he spared a moment to close Private Bhatia's sightless eyes, hefted his Avenge assault rifle and took off on a run.

He had a job to do, last member of his shattered command or not, he had to know what happened to Bravo squad and the civilians, so he doubled back. Even if it killed him, he had to know the rest of the story.

That same moment
SSV Normandy Comm room

"Get down!"

"...We are under attack... Taking heavy casualties, I repeat, Heavy Casualties!"

"... can't hold them... aragh... need evac... call sign broken arrow!"

Lt. Commander Kate Beckett stared intently at the monitor, watched the lead NCO of the shattered squad give his report under fire and request fire support even as his squad-mates fell around him, his chest plate coated with spattered blood and brain matter before the transmission cut out.

"Reverse and hold at 38.5." Capt. Montgomery ordered.

While her captain and Nihlus, the Turian Spectre whom the Citadel Council had sent to observe the Normandy SR-1's shakedown cruise and their top secret mission she had only just been briefed upon stared at the screen.

Kate's thoughts went back to the man she had seen, heart heavy with the knowledge that this message had likely recorded his last stand. She remembered scattered moments much like that at Elysium during the Skyllian Blitz, watching men and women fall around her, the hardened determination to hold the line to the last man until help arrived.

"Status report," Capt. Montgomery ordered.

"Seventeen Minutes out, Captain," came Ryan's voice over the intercom, "No other Alliance ships in the area."

"Take us in, Ryan, fast and quiet, " Montgomery commanded. "This mission just got a lot more complicated."

"A small strike team can move quickly, without drawing attention." Nihlus said without any apparent emotion, "It's our best chance to secure the beacon."

'Cold blooded bastard,' Kate thought to herself, 'people are dying down there.'

"Grab your gear and meet us in the cargo hold." Montgomery agreed. The Turian had turned on his way out the door before the words were completely out of the captain's mouth as he turned to Beckett.

"Tell Esposito and Jenkins to suit up, Commander, you're going in."

Kate stared at the strange, hand-shaped ship on the haptic display, then turned away to carry out her orders. She would get the job done, but the broad shouldered, blue eyed man she'd seen just moments ago would not leave her thoughts. She would complete her mission as best she could, she knew that. It was why Nihlus had put her name forward as a Spectre candidate after all.

But if there was a chance in hell of bringing that man back alive, mission or not, she would do it.

She would find a way.

**Author's Note** Since this first chapter of my ficathon entry is for all intents and purposes a reformatted one shot from my Cornucopia of One-Shot Procrastination Drabbles (ch 10- Mass Effect Castle Style) then this first chapter DOES NOT COUNT toward word count under the rules currently in effect.

For the Mass Effect fans in attendance, all alien characters will remain the same, though some of their roles in the story may change.

Broken Arrow - Radio code used during the Vietnam War (November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975) denoting a unit about to be overrun; diverts all available Tactical air and artillery support to that unit.