Hello there,
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Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 15 chapters ahead
DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 15 chapters ahead,
Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 15 chapters ahead,
Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 15 chapters ahead,
Loki: The God of Magic , an OC-SI into Loki who is not aware of the MCU, is 8 chapters ahead,
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—
"While the Geth attack at the Human colony of Eden Prime has sent shockwaves through the galactic community, Commander Shepard's timely intervention has saved the day once again.
The Geth, which are highly resistant to any form of cyberattack, have been left powerless before Commander Shepard, making the galaxy wonder, will the Great Hero do what he did to the Batarians and take Rannoch back while finally putting an end to the synthetic threat of the Geth?
The Quarian Migrant Fleet is reported to be split on the matter, with a majority clamoring to petition Commander Shepard for the task of taking their homeworld back, while a minority refuses to even consider the idea.
No matter the outcome, Jonathan Shepard's actions will surely not disappoint.
Brought to you by Citadel News Network, your eyes and ears across the galaxy."
—
Citadel
"I don't care what you claim to have, Quarian; get lost." One of the guards of the human embassy, a sergeant, dismissed a young Quarian female, who seemed to be getting agitated.
"Look, I am telling you it is about Saren. Just let me talk to someone with clearance." She sounded so done with the
"Sergeant, there is someone here claiming to have information about the criminal that attacked a human colony, and you're turning her back why exactly?"
"Sir, I, well…" The sergeant stumbled, realizing he was in deep trouble now.
"Commander Shepard. Thank the ancestors." Tali was going to meet the Shadow Broker for protection, but hearing that Commander Shepard was on the Citadel? The choice was obvious.
"You said you have info on Saren?" The former number one Spectre's crimes might have been already unearthed, but more intel couldn't hurt, especially if it was something they didn't know.
"Yes, please listen." She activated her omni-tool, playing a voice record.
"Eden Prime was a major victory. The beacon has brought us one step closer to finding the conduit." Saren's voice came from her omni-tool, clear as day.
"And one step closer to the return of the Reapers." The second voice was female, and Shepard recognized it immediately.
"Reapers? The conduit? What is Saren after now, and who is that second voice?" Ashley knew things just got weirder.
"Best we bring this recording to the Council, after I am done with my business. In the meantime, why don't you tag along, Miss?" Shepard asked for the young Quarian's name, as she was most likely out here on her pilgrimage.
"Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. And I'll be glad to." After all, there wasn't a more secure place in the galaxy than Commander Shepard's side.
—
The Citadel Council could wait while he made some purchases. Thankfully, Volus Bankers also acted as intermediaries for any transaction one may wish to conduct.
Entering the Citadel Branch of Volus Banking, he was greeted by a Volus, Barla Von.
"Ah, Commander Shepard. What a pleasant surprise to see you once again. How may I be of service?" Barla Von, a banker and an agent of the Shadow Broker, knew of Shepard's very impressive portfolio and assets, and as such, any transaction he did was bound to be lucrative.
"Barla. I need this list of materials and equipment sent to my ship, the SSV Normandy." Shepard knew Barla was smart enough to not screw him because he had a keen sense of survival.
"Yes, it will be done shortly, but I happen to have some very influential individuals making inquiries about some rumors claiming you have a laser rifle, and they are very interested in mass manufacturing it. Would you be open to a meeting with them?"
"No, I have work to do, and besides, I don't want to give an edge like this away. Tell those individuals to not push their luck." Shepard warned, not really in the mood to deal with the rich elite of the galaxy.
Not that he ever would be.
"Understandable. As for your work, I might be able to assist. You see, a bar owner named Fist, who was working for the Shadow Broker, has chosen to betray him for a certain Turian that has crossed you. The Shadow Broker sent a mercenary Krogan named Urdnot Wrex to correct that mistake. Perhaps Fist could also shed some light on your investigation." Barla Von offered the knowledge freely to increase his standing with Shepard.
"Thanks, Barla. I'll be sure to do that."
The details over the purchase were finished quickly, which meant he could head to the Citadel Tower.
He could, but he wouldn't.
A certain Asari Consort had left an invitation for him years ago, and Shepard was sure he could spare some time for Sha'ira.
After that, he was going to kill this Fist.
The acolyte at the door, Nelyta, sprung up from her chair at seeing Shepard.
"Commander Shepard. We are pleased to see you here. Please, head inside while I inform the Consort. Your companions can be seated here and enjoy our offerings." The Asari informed them before pressing the intercom.
Ashley grumbled something unintelligible, but from her tone and the sour look on her face, the Gunnery Chief wasn't pleased that the Champion of Humanity was sleeping with Asari whores.
"Commander Shepard, we finally meet face-to-face." He could see the appeal, as the Asari Consort was certainly beautiful and sensual.
"What can I say, doll, the galaxy keeps me busy." Shepard winked, leaning back on the wall and crossing his arms, giving the Asari Matriarch the privilege.
"Indeed. I have truly been fortunate, because there is a matter only you can solve." Shepard blinked as the situation quickly turned to business rather than fun.
Oh well.
"I am great at making problems disappear." He was, and the whole galaxy could attest to that.
"This one will require a more delicate touch." Sha'ira didn't want any bloodshed over this.
"I am a excellent diplomat and negotiator as well." He had never failed to come out on top in any negotiations.
"Indeed. I have a friend, Septimus, a retired Turian general. I won't discuss the details, but he wanted me to be more than I could be." The Asari consort explained, taking a step towards Shepard before continuing.
" We had a falling out. Now he spends his days in Chora's Den drinking and spreading lies about me. If you would speak to him as a fellow soldier, I believe he would listen to you and let the matter be." Sha'ira finished, caressing Shepard's face.
" We had a falling out. Now he spends his days in Chora's Den drinking and spreading lies about me. If you would speak to him as a fellow soldier, I believe he would listen to you and let the matter be." Sha'ira finished, caressing Shepard's face, before pulling her hand back, confused.
Didn't she just say that?
Shepard wasn't paying attention to Sha'ira as he remembered the Turian. He knew a lot of the high echelons of the Hierarchy, some more than the others, and General Septimus Oraka was one of the Turians he knew better.
"Alright, I'll go and sort this out."
"Thank you, Commander." Sha'ira bowed, turning back to lay down for a bit, chalking up the weird feeling to stress.
—
After talking down General Septimus and spending some time with the Consort, Shepard finally deigned to visit the Citadel Tower.
"Look, Garrus, the Council's already revoked Saren's Spectre status, but that doesn't mean they want anyone to dig into his past jobs. Your investigation is over." Shepard and his team watched as Palin dismissed a C-Sec officer.
"Commander Shepard. Garrus Vakarian, I was the officer in charge of the C-Sec investigation into Saren."
"Any idea what he wanted in Eden Prime?" Shepard asked, without mentioning the conduit or the Reapers, to see if the Turian had found anything.
"Saren was a Spectre. Even with his status revoked, most of his activities are classified. I couldn't find anything solid. But whatever he wanted with the beacon, it can't be good. Like you humans say, I feel it in my gut."
"Thanks anyway."
"I think the Council's ready for us, Commander."
"Good luck, Shepard. Maybe they'll let you take a look into his record."
Shepard nodded, deciding he didn't want to delay his legendary entrance any more.
"The hearing's already started. Come on." Anderson was waiting for them up the stairs, urging the team to hurry.
Shepard smiled, activating his anti-gravity field, before starting to fly again.
—
"Saren's current actions are under investigation, ambassador. However, there is no sign of a larger attack by the Geth." Tevos refused Ambassador Udina's request for additional support on the border of Perseus Veil. The three Councillors had discussed the matter at length, and unless the synthetics displayed signs of an all-out assault, they would not exacerbate the situation by increasing the number of ships at the front.
"We are" Councillor Sparatus was going to talk about the additional security measures that would be taken but stopped at seeing Commander Shepard enter the Council Chambers, flying.
"Councillors." The human greeted them, floating a bit higher than the podium, looking down on them.
"So it is true, you can fly now. Care to share the specifics, or why you felt it was necessary to build the means to fly?" Valern asked, while Sparatus grumbled about troublesome humans.
"Just an anti-gravity generator, nothing fancy. As for why, walking and running all the time gets tiresome; I lose valuable time that could be used for ass-kicking."
"I see. Must have taken a lot of eezo to build it. How do you manage the static electricity and the heat buildup?"
"Oh, my anti-gravity generator doesn't use eezo, so I don't have those problems."
"Commander, are you telling us you built a non-eezo anti-gravity generator? How?" This would shake the eezo market, one of the main staples of the Asari economy, and if that happened, the Asari Republics would hold Tevos responsible.
"That is my little secret. In the meantime, thanks to Miss Zorah here, we might have discovered what Saren was after in Eden Prime."
Tali played the recording again, and the Councillors listened raptly.
"I don't recognize the second voice, the one talking about the Reapers." Udina couldn't help but wonder just what kind of a mess they got themselves in now.
"That was Matriarch Benezia. What she is doing with Saren, I have no idea."
"You know her, Commander?" Udina wasn't surprised, since he was sure Shepard had met more VIPs than he had.
"Yes, we met when I received the Nova Cluster from Primarch Fedorian; she struck me as the peace-loving type of person."
"She is one of the more prominent matriarchs known for her philosophical teachings of peace and understanding." Tevos knew Benezia's influence wasn't anything to scoff at, and if she, for some goddess-damned reason, joined Saren, then things became more complicated now.
The discussion of the Reapers, coupled with what Tali had acquired from a Geth memory core, left everyone confused. Shepard, knowing it was most likely related to the vision he had seen while interacting with the beacon, but saying anything further wouldn't be wise now.
"What do you think, Commander?" Udina asked, breaking Shepard out of his thoughts.
"Councillors, your former top agent went crazy because he believes the Reapers are real, which is irrelevant now, because Saren will continue to try to bring them back, and I have a feeling he doesn't care about the collateral damage. However, an investigation into these Reapers is in order, because that dreadnought wasn't normal, nor was it Geth, and the vision I received from the beacon showed me that something did wipe out the Protheans. Whether it was the Reapers or something else, we'll see." Shepard, seeing all eyes were on him, decided to throw in his two cents.
"Shepard is right. While it does sound outlandish, we should still be able to recover something from the beacon that could shed light on Saren's actions." Sparatus, as the Turian Councillor and the one who recommended Saren as a Spectre, had more reasons to see him brought down than the other Councillors
"Very well, we will investigate the Reapers. In the meantime, Saren's status as a Spectre has been revoked following his attack on Eden Prime. Our latest intel has shown he had fled to the remaining Terminus systems. You will be charged to hunt him down without starting a full-fledged war. To that end, we, as the Citadel Council, will be inducting you to the rank of the Spectres. Commander Shepard, please float down?" Tevos called out, the words sounding weird to ears, drawing the interest of the observers, ready to watch the legendary Commander Shepard become the first human Spectre.
After an inspirational speech about the Spectres and their burdens and whatnot, Shepard was officially a Spectre.
"Thank you, Councillors." Never let it be said Commander Jonathan Shepard was ungrateful.
"Congratulations, Commander." Anderson shook his XO's hand, feeling pride at seeing him rise as the first human Spectre.
"We've got a lot of work to do, Commander. You're going to need a ship, crew, supplies..." Udina began to consider what else Shepard would need.
"Spectres get access to special equipment and training, not that you need any, but maybe your crew could benefit from them. You should go down to the C-Sec and talk to the Spectre requisitions officer." Anderson suggested, knowing the crew could use better equipment.
"Anderson, come with me. I'll need your help to set all this up."
A round of congratulations rose from his crew, and Shepard thought it would be for the best to go down to C-Sec and get some high-quality equipment, at least until he made more laser rifles.
—
C-Sec Headquarters
Down in C-Sec, they came across a human warning a Krogan about not threatening Fist, the human Barla Von told him about.
"So you're Urdnot Wrex."
"Well, well, well, Commander Jonathan Shepard." The Krogan pushed the human officer aside, stopping right before Shepard, inspecting the human.
Wrex, just like almost everyone in the galaxy, followed Commander Shepard's adventures very closely. To him, Shepard was a warrior worthy of respect.
"Heard you are going after Fist."
"Yeah, I was hired to."
"Officers, Fist is Spectre business now." The C-Sec officers nodded, as Shepard's appointment was basically a galactic affair now, with the news announcing it from the very start.
"Yes, Commander."
"I am going after him too; why don't you tag along?"
"Fighting alongside the mighty Commander Shepard? This should be fun." Wrex nodded, following the human.
Shepard was bound to get in a good fight, and Wrex wouldn't miss it for his life.
—
Chora's Den
The club represented its owner like a mirror. Loud, dirty, and with lowlights, it was a place fit for a scumbag like this Fist.
And it was filled with guards, who all pointed their assorted weaponry at Shepard before noticing who it was.
"So?" Shepard asked, watching without even pulling his rifle.
"Shit. Fist doesn't pay enough to face Shepard. I am out of here." One of the humans said, and the rest followed suit, quickly leaving the club.
"Heh. Here I was looking for a fight." Wrex sounded disappointed, shaking his head.
The marines went ahead, not facing any opposition until they found Fist's office, and two turrets started shooting at them. Taking cover, they were going to wait for an opening to fire before Shepard took the lead, moving out of the cover and shooting both turrets with his rifle, blowing them up.
"Oh shit!" Fists screamed when he saw Shepard coming and raised his hands to surrender.
"Please don't kill me. You have the Quarian too! Damn it, is this about the doctor?" He begged, and Shepard stopped.
What doctor?
"Go on."
Fist, scared out of his mind, confessed to having sent his men to threaten a doctor named Michel, who apparently treated Tali when she first came to the Citadel.
"I told you everything. You'll let me go, right?" Fist looked hopeful that Commander Shepard would let him go.
"Sure." Shepard holstered his rifle, leaving Fist to the Krogan.
"I am not." Wrex grinned before shooting Fist in the chest, killing him.
Shutting down the outraged marines with a dry look, Shepard went to save this Doctor Michel.
—
Wards
Med Clinic
Shepard opened the door to the clinic, with three marines, a Krogan Battlemaster, and a Quarian at his back, only to see a human female threatened by three humans.
"Who the hell—oh, fuck, it's Shepard!" The thug took the doctor hostage, putting his pistol at her head, only to be shot in the head himself.
Shepard pulled the other two with his biotics, suspending them in the air, and his team gunned them down.
"Perfect timing, Shepard. Gave me a clear shot at that bastard." Garrus Vakarian, the C-Sec officer they met before at the Citadel tower, nodded in appreciation.
"Nice shot. How are you, doc?"
"I am fine, thanks to all of you."
"Doctor Michel, why were they threatening you?" Garrus asked, already in detective mode.
"They work for Fist. They wanted to stop me from telling you about Tali, but it seems Commander Shepard was one step ahead." Doctor Michel explained her situation, pointing at Tali.
"Fist is dead; he isn't going to bother you, or anyone else, ever again."
"Commander, I want Saren dead as much as you do. Let me join you." Shepard shrugged. The Turian was a good shot, so why the heck not?
"Sure, the more the merrier. Doctor, if anyone ever gives you trouble, you can contact me through this address."
"Thank you, Commander. And good luck to you."
—
"Fist is dead; you can go now if you wish, Wrex." Shepard had no reason to hold the bounty hunter any longer, as the Krogan might have other business to do.
"I'll stick around. With you hunting Saren, things are bound to get exciting." The Krogan's bloodthirsty grin told Shepard all he needed to know.
"I'll come too. Saren's bound to have more Geth with him, and since they were our creations, we still know more than the rest of the galaxy." Tali wasn't subtle either, but again, Shepard saw how useful her knowledge could be.
"Alright, alright. You each get one footlocker. Now let's go."
—
Docks
Udina and Anderson were already waiting for them at the docks, and while they raised eyebrows at seeing that his crew had doubled in members, they didn't say anything.
"Commander, great news. Anderson is stepping down as the Commanding Officer of Normandy. The ship is yours." Udina informed him with a hesitant look. If Shepard didn't like his mentor being forced to retire, Ambassador of Humanity would be the first to feel
"You know, all this keeping secrets from me is getting annoying. Speak, now." Technically, they were Shepard's superiors, so he couldn't order them around.
Practically, his kill count was in the millions, not that Shepard would kill them, but it meant when he wanted something, he would get it.
"Twenty years ago, they were considering me for the Spectres. I couldn't make the cut. Now, since you are a Spectre, you can't be answering to anyone but the Council and the top of the Alliance brass due to the unique nature of the agreement they made. She is quick and quiet, and you know the crew. Perfect ship for a Spectre. Treat her well, Commander." Anderson came clean, talking about something he tended to keep secret. Shepard saw how heavily it weighed on him and decided to ask another time.
"Alright. Any word on Saren?"
"He has vanished, but I am sure you will find him. For now, we have other leads." Anderson was glad for the change in subject.
"We had reports of Geth in the Feros system shortly before our colony there dropped out of contact. And there have been sightings around Noveria." Udina was glad too; after all, no one wanted to be exiled to the far end of the Alliance territory due to a "reassignment."
"Anything else?"
"There is one more lead. Matriarch Benezia's daughter, Liara T'soni, is an expert in Protheans. We don't know if she is involved, but it would be a good idea to find her regardless. We have reports that she was exploring an archeological dig in one of the uncharted worlds in the Artemis Tau cluster." Udina thought it was a strong possibility, given the current events, but you could never be sure.
"Liara? Well, that is going to be awkward." Shepard wasn't looking forward to that meeting and would bet his laser rifle neither was she.
"I won't even ask, since you are constrained for time." Anderson knew it was something ridiculous.