Imperial Reckoning: Humanity Return

Chapter 57: Citadel Confrontations

The Normandy’s engines hummed low as she glided into port on the Citadel. The sleek lines of the ship cut through the void as it was guided by docking lights toward its berth, eventually coming to a gentle halt. The crew disembarked with purpose, heads held high as they were immediately flanked by Citadel Security officers. Word of Shepard’s urgent transmission from Eden Prime had spread, and there would be no delays. They were escorted directly to the Council chambers.

Shepard led the way, the faint clicks of armor and boots echoing in the wide, polished corridors. They approached the Council chamber doors just as heated voices filtered through.

“Do you truly expect us to believe this apocalyptic fairy tale, Udina?” demanded Sparatus, the Turian Councilor. The tone in his voice was more dismissive than ever, carrying an edge of frustration that only sparked Udina’s rising temper.

“Our Emperor does not issue warnings without cause, Councilor Sparatus,” Udina replied sharply, trying to maintain diplomatic composure. “The Imperium does not mobilize its forces lightly, and certainly not on a whim. The threat is real. The Reapers are real. We have already shared our findings from Mars with you, yet you refuse to listen.”

Sparatus scoffed, crossing his arms. “Mars? A desolate planet with scattered scraps that could mean anything? No, Udina. It’s far more likely this is just another Imperium fabrication, another ploy to frighten and manipulate the galaxy into submission.”

Before the argument could escalate further, the chamber doors slid open, and all eyes turned as Shepard and his team entered. The tense atmosphere thickened. Shepard’s presence brought an air of command that demanded silence, and Udina’s scowl softened at the sight of the Lord Commander.

At the same time, a familiar face caught Shepard’s eye just outside the Council chambers. A tall, blue-armored Turian—Garrus Vakarian. He gave Shepard a respectful nod and stepped forward.

"Commander Shepard," Garrus said, extending a hand. "Garrus Vakarian, C-Sec. I was assigned to investigate Saren, but… my superiors cut me from the case. Lack of evidence, they said. I hope your report can salvage what’s left of this mess.”

Shepard shook his hand, his steely gaze saying all it needed to. “Good to meet you, Garrus. Let’s hope the Council sees reason today.”

As they stepped up to the podium, Udina fell back, allowing Shepard, Ashley, Tali, Nihilus, and Garrus to stand together in full view of the Council. Tevos raised her hand, calling for order, and Valern, leaned forward.

"Lord Commander Shepard," Valern began with a note of concern. "Is it true? Has the Imperium mobilized? Did the Emperor himself order this?"

Shepard gave a firm nod. “Yes, Councilor. The Emperor has deemed this threat too imminent to ignore. We’ve uncovered information that confirms the Reapers are not some myth but a very real, very ancient menace.”

Sparatus let out an audible huff, his irritation clear. “And what proof do you have, Shepard? The Imperium has often used fear as a weapon to gain control. Why should we trust this sudden mobilization against a ‘threat’ no one has seen in millennia?”

Tevos turned her gaze on the Turian Councilor, a cold intensity in her eyes. “Councilor Sparatus, if there’s even a chance the Reapers exist, do we really dare ignore it?”

Shepard stepped forward, taking a deep breath as he began recounting his experience on Eden Prime. “I had a vision there. I saw an ancient civilization… torn apart by the Reapers. It was systematic, ruthless. Since that moment, it’s been haunting me, pushing me to act.”

Sparatus’s mandibles flared in disdain. “So you’re telling us you’re mobilizing over a vision?”

“We’re mobilizing because of the evidence we’ve found,” Shepard said coldly. He gestured to Tali, who stepped up, holding a small, blinking device in her hand.

“While we were en route here, I managed to retrieve data from a Geth core we recovered on Eden Prime. I think this recording will speak for itself,” she said, activating the device. A grainy audio transmission played, filling the chamber with Saren’s unmistakable voice:

“Eden Prime was a major victory. This will bring us one step closer to finding the Conduit.”

There was a stunned silence, and then another voice, unfamiliar but chilling, followed.

“And one step closer to the return of the Reapers.”

The Council chamber fell into a deeper silence as the weight of Saren’s words settled over them. Tevos, recognizing the voice, let out a quiet gasp.

“That… that voice. It’s Matriarch Benezia. But… why would she be there”

Sparatus, normally so quick to argue, was visibly taken aback. His posture stiffened, and he looked away, his face a mask of reluctant acceptance. “As much as it pains me to say it… if this is real, then the Imperium’s warnings may not be… unfounded.”

Valern turned to Shepard, clearly troubled. “This information is damning. Saren, one of our top Spectres, aiding the Reapers… if true, he poses a threat not only to the Imperium but to the entire galaxy.”

Tevos nodded solemnly. “Saren’s actions are unforgivable. His Spectre status is hereby revoked.” She turned to Nihlus. “Nihlus, I’m assigning you to track down Saren. Use whatever means necessary to bring him to justice.”

Nihlus gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Understood, Councilor. But given the scale of this threat, I believe I’ll need some backup. Shepard and his crew have faced this firsthand. They would be invaluable in the hunt.”

Valern looked to Shepard, his expression a mix of plea and authority. “Lord Commander, though you serve the Imperium, we ask—will you join us in this hunt for Saren and help uncover the Reapers’ plans?”

Shepard’s voice was resolute. “Councilors, Saren attacked my Imperium. He endangered everything we’ve built. Rest assured, I’ll see him brought to justice.”

As Shepard turned to leave, Garrus stepped forward again. “Commander… I’d like to join your crew.”

Shepard raised an eyebrow. “Why should I take you on, Vakarian? This is a dangerous mission, not some C-Sec assignment.”

Garrus took a deep breath, his voice steady but filled with purpose. “Because I don’t leave a job half-finished. Saren isn’t just a Citadel problem; he’s a threat to my home, my family, my sister, my father. I need to stop him. For them.”

Shepard studied the Turian for a moment before nodding. “Welcome aboard, Garrus. But if we’re going after Saren, we’ll need more than the Normandy Mark 2’s stealth capabilities. We’ll need something with real firepower.”

Tali grinned knowingly. “So, we’re heading home… to the 'real' Normandy?”

A smile tugged at the corners of Shepard’s mouth. Without a word, he turned and led his team out of the chamber, a sense of resolve solidifying within him. This was a mission not just to bring Saren to justice but to protect the galaxy from the looming threat of the Reapers.

As they exited, the weight of their task settled on Shepard’s shoulders. They would be going into unknown and dangerous territory, but he felt ready—like the galaxy’s future rested on this crusade. And he was prepared for whatever lay ahead.