Chapter 9: War's End

"Hegemon Karm, do you understand your situation?" asked Marcus.

"I trust my generals. They have told me of your victory, and I know they were truthful," replied the Hegemon.

It had been over two weeks since Khar'shan fell to Terran forces. Marcus once again found himself staring down the Batarian Hegemon.

"I hope you remember my peace deal. Losing this war doesn't have to be the end of your government, and the terms can be negotiated. Humanity isn't unreasonable."

The Hegemon narrowed his eyes and leaned back in his large metal chair.

"Without slaves, it'll be the end of our culture. That is far worse," he argued.

"Your culture is strong enough to adapt. No one is asking for instant change. There will be a process, and what comes out of it could be stronger. You can still lead your people to greatness."

The Hegemon sighed.

"Fine. I don't have many options. Let's negotiate."

By the end of the day, a peace deal was signed. The terms were simple.

The Terran Republic would provide enough automated manufacturing and robots to replace the Hegemony's slaves. The Terrans would also assist the Hegemony until a fully Batarian economy could be reached.

When it came to military forces, the Republic had six months to pull all forces out of Batarian territory. Afterwards, only forces with the Hegemon's permission may stay.

Due to the cultural and political shock likely to follow, for the next decade the Hegemon would have the right to call up to 25 terran advisors in order to help him rule and govern. These experts would be provided by the Terran Republic free of charge.

On the Batarian side, slavery would be banned. No innocent person who fell under the Hegemony's jurisdiction would be forced to work for a certain person or organization. Slaves would be freed one planet at a time, until the entire Hegemony was free. Every year, terran inspectors would be allowed to make sure this was followed.

This transition from slavery to automation was to happen within ten years. After that, every slave would be free no matter the consequences.

The Hegemon did give one last warning to Marcus, though.

"Not every planet will accept this. Some may break away and leave the Hegemony. This would be a perfect opportunity for rebellion," warned the batarian.

"Don't worry. Any slaver rebellion would be declared a criminal group of the highest order and dealt with by terran forces. I'll make sure of it."

Such 'rebels' were just more victims for Shepard, thought Marcus.

"Shepard, the Admiral's calling."

"Got it." Shepard replied as she headed to the comms room. It was just a day after Admiral Messer's peace agreement was signed, and things were beginning to relax. Fighting was still intense on other worlds, especially the Hegemony's frontier, but most enemy forces on Khar'shan had surrendered.

"Admiral, nice job with the Hegemon."

"Thanks, Shepard. I've got a new mission for you. I need you to take a few platoons and take a black ops facility. Intel has gotten a location for where Reaper like tech, including that alloy you found, is coming from," Informed Messer.

A holographic map materialized in front of Shepard. It was of an asteroid about a few dozen kilometers wide.

"Is that the site?" Shepard asked.

"Yes. It's on the outskirts of the Harsa system. I've already transmitted the coordinates to the Normandy. You can expect lots of Batarian elite troops, the site is run by the Hegemony's intel agency and some private forces. Intel thinks it's a research lab."

"Sounds doable. Their so called 'Shadows' operatives haven't put up much of a fight so far. About as good a green Terran soldier. Bet I could kill a dozen of them myself," boasted Shepard.

The Admiral shook his head. He brought up another holoprojection, this time of a heavily armored Batarian. Most notable was the analysis below it, and the stats listed to the sides.

"What's this?" asked Shepard.

Another holoprojection, this time of an older Batarian who had a few scars on his face.

"This man is the Batarian Councilor, Karm Bah'kath. The armored man is what we believe his private forces to be."

"Bah'kath? I remember that name. I think I've interrogated a Bah'kath." Shepard smiled fondly at that memory.

"After Intel took him from you, he was interrogated some more. After what you did, he didn't last a day before spilling. It's from him we learned about his family's honor guard."

Admiral Messer's face looked grim.

"That honor guard is guarding the lab. These guys are expected to be your hardest challenge. They've got Reaper tech. A full report will be sent a few hours from now, but so far, we've got a form of indoctrination, biological armor, and redundant organs. They got super strength and enhanced vision."

This made Shepard stop for a second. Reaper tech was something every Terran soldier trained for, but there was still little known about it. The prothean beacon from Mars wasn't heavy on military intel, and what it told of was mostly rumor.

"I see. That's a lot of good intel sitting in that lab. Send everything you know about it, and I'll probably be about to take it in a week," informed Shepard.

The Admiral didn't seem pleased.

"Shepard, we don't have a week. Even with the Normandy's communications jamming, estimates say that by three days from now that lab will be spooked enough to start destroying what they have."

"Admiral, if what that base in Terran hands by the day after tomorrow, I'll need more than just a company."

"What do you need, then?"

Shepard thought about it. Currently, she only had the Normandy and her battalion.

"I'll need a destroyer and a few more frigates for naval support. It's guns can takeout any heavy resistance. The asteroid's big, so I'll need my entire battalion to deal with it. Since were dealing with a lot of unknowns, I'd like a Marine company or two and another cyberwarfare detachment," requested Shepard.

Admiral Messer seemed surprised.

"I'll trust you with grounds ops. I can get you all that, but you might have to wait a day on the marines. I think I have a few generals I can get in contact with."

"Sounds good. I only need the marines to cause some chaos, so any infantry company will do."

"I see. Good luck, Colonel. Messer out."

Shepard stayed at the comms station for a moment before leaving.

She spent the next few hours planning, then called all company commanders to her command center. By the end of the day, the entire 21st viper battalion would be back on the Normandy and up in interplanetary space.

While Shepard prepared, Marcus had his own business to do. As soon as his call with her ended, he contacted the President's residence, the Palace of the Bridge. A grand building built on the historic site of the TSV Exodus's bridge, it was the seat of Terran executive power.

"Hello, President's office speaking."

"Ma'am, this is Admiral Marcus Messer. I'm looking for President Holden. Diplomatic and military matters," replied Marcus.

"Right away, sir."

Marcus waited a minute or two before he heard the President's voice.

"Admiral, good to see you. Is everything alright?"

"Things are great here on Khar'shan. Most of the Batarians in this system are loyal to the Hegemon. However, I've got reports that planets farther out from the core are following their Councilor. The fighting there is still heavy," reported Marcus.

The President frowned.

"I need this war to be over soon, Admiral. People here are getting worried about the Reapers, and anti-slavery sentiments only go so far," cautioned Holden.

"Don't worry, sir. This war is ending soon, and even now we're countering the Reaper threat. I've talked with both General Osin and Admiral Davis, and we've got a plan."

"What plan?"

Marcus smiled.

"I wanted to schedule a meeting. All the system generals and fleet admirals plus my own diplomatic staff. In five days from now, we believe things will have calmed down enough to scrape together a real show of force. We can take the Citadel itself."

That surprised Holden. He paused for a moment.

"The Citadel? That would be game changing. I've got some time the day after tomorrow."

"Why not tomorrow?" questioned Marcus.

"I've got meetings with senators and assembly members from first light till night. Admiral, you can't complain about that; you're the one who stirred them up after all. All I ever hear nowadays is slaver this and slaver that!" complained Holden.

"I see. Well I can't say Osin and Davis will be happy about that, but we can do the Day after tomorrow. I might have to leave early though. I've got a mission set up that has to do with possible intel on the Reapers."

That too, shocked Holden.

"Wow, you're really finding a lot about Reapers. Good to hear. If there's nothing else, I'll be off. I've got other dealings to attend to."

"See you, Mr. President."

Marcus leaned back a bit. His schedule just tightened up a bit, but it was still doable. His briefing will have to be shortened, but Davis was competent. The fleet admiral could get the job done.

Once Marcus thought about his plan a bit more, he made his way back to his office. The place was as disorganized as ever, but everything was still easy for Marcus to find.

Soon he found himself some lists, status reports, and diagrams and started planning for the battles ahead. In front of him was everything from battle reports to ship designs. It reminded Marcus of a jigsaw puzzle.

First thing to do was Shepard's assault on the base. The tactics of it weren't his expertise; he was an admiral, not a general. However, no matter how it went, valuable intel would be gained.

Marcus made a list of his Intel Branch contacts. The recommendations he got as an admiral were fine, but he trusted his own contacts more than High Command's. He also made a note to ask Shepard for some names.

Next up was the meeting with the President and High Command. Since both were happening on the same day, this would need to be short. Admiral Davis could talk about the Citadel defense fleet while General Osin dealt with Citadel Security and any garrison forces.

Marcus knew that only he would be able to talk about the diplomatic efforts, so best to focus on that. Most important was to stress the importance of Presidium, where the Citadel high class lived and home of galactic diplomacy. Another vital asset was the Council itself. Capturing them likely meant the end of the war.

While intel from Khar'shan, the Quarians, the Geth, and the Remains of Turian ships had painted a clear picture of Councilors Maerus, Arterius, and Bah'kath, it was the Asari that had Marcus worried.

All reports indicated that Councilor Riala is dead. Killed During Marcus's own attack on their fleet. Maybe shooting that big cruiser like ship wasn't such a good idea after all. Even the best Terran AI special operations operatives couldn't pinpoint who exactly would replace her.

Matriarchs across the Asari Republics were all looking to take the seat. The Councilor's sudden and unexpected death had created a political gold rush on Thessia.

With no official species wide leaders or politicians on their home world, every Matriarch not tied up with citadel politics and with any power to her name was flocking to Thessia. They hoped to at the very least gain favor with the next councilor, if not become her.

With the countless number of Asari, Intel had no way of determining who would win. The only one unique was a secretive information broker from the Terminus Systems. Her network was one of the best in Milky Way Galaxy, but not much else was known about it.

The only thing concrete about this mystery Asari was her alias, the Oracle of Omega.

Marcus chucked to himself.

Many Generals and Admirals would be surprised and humbled by an Asari who could hid from the Terran Intelligence Branch. He had to put a lot of pressure on the TIB just to get them to admit that they knew nothing.

It would take him the rest of the day to organize all of that into one relatively short briefing. Once he did, however, Marcus went to bed happy. He was satisfied with both the briefing and the plan.

Intergalactic Space – Reaper Communication Outpost

Harbinger, Master of the Cycle, Guardian of the Harvest, and many other titles lost to time, wasn't having a good day. As he drifted around the ancient comm buoy, he wondered where Nazara was.

The Vanguard Reaper was supposed to have checked in by now. A week was more than enough time to take control of the Geth. It wasn't possible for a reaper to be disobedient to it's superiors, so what happened?

The comm buoy was working fine. Nazara simply wasn't answering.

Something must have happened with the Geth.

It took only a split second to make his next decision.

Without Nazara and his resources, Harbinger's own pawns would have to take over the watch, at least until the missing reaper was found.

Harbinger established a link to a solitary base within the Milky Way. Insect Hive like cruisers drifted lifelessly around it, while minimal activity was going on within.

That would soon change.

"ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL!"

Author's Note: This chapter was a bit short since all the military stuff is next chapter. I also have a poll about this story's world building on my profile page. It's open until May 2020, and I would really appreciate it if people voted. I hope you guys enjoy the story.