For Peace

Beatrice Shepard

"They found a new relay," Miranda commented as the ship entered hyperdrive.

"I heard," Shepard replied. "How was it found?"

"One of our scout vessels found it," Miranda replied. "We thought this vessel had been lost but it was able to send a signal before disappearing again."

"That sounds like a trap," Shepard said.

"We know," Miranda agreed. "That's why we are going in. The aliens must have figured out our technology."

"Well our technology isn't as advanced as theirs," Shepard reminded her.

"We'll catch up," Miranda promised.

Shepard smiled and stayed silent.

Where are we headed? Shepard asked SAM.

He replied, "Mindoir. It's a planet in the Attican Traverse. The Alliance activated the nearby relay after Mars was taken away from us. They turned Mindoir into a farming colony. They colonized a few other planets as well, but this was the first farming colony.

It's a trap, she said.

Yes, the signal was replicated from the lost vessel.

Shepard said goodbye to Miranda and headed out to get dressed for battle. She knew it was going to be a very long day. Since humanity has driven out the turians from Mars. They had been expanding their search grid bit by bit trying to find new relays and new technology. Not that Shepard thought that was a good idea.

Even though the Alliance didn't want to admit it they had lost a lot of good soldiers in their first contact war.

*

[Ready for drop...ETA 10 seconds] Joker called out over the intercom.

[Roger that] Shepard replied.

Shepard looked at Reese and Jones.

"Ready?"

They nodded.

[Second drop point..]

[3,2,1; you're good to drop...]

The three of them got into position and dropped at their designated drop point. They got into battle formation. They slowly made their way toward the main colony area.

Since this signal was obviously a trap they had sent in three teams with different drop point locations.

'Team Two is in position, awaiting further orders,' Lieutenant Henry Demme reported.

"Stand by," Captain Julia Cerold said into her comm-link, she had taken command of the third team.

"Shepard."

"We're about 100 meters away from the location but something doesn't seem right," Shepard reported. "We've passed the farming fields and there are no workers. This is prime time for farming yet there isn't anyone here."

"Stay alert," Captain Cerold ordered.

"Stay alert," Shepard whispered to her team. "Something's up."

The three of them approached their target and slowly entered the building. The team checked every room they could find and didn't see anyone. The most they found were large containers. Most of the hallway was closed off except for a few passageways. It felt like they were being herded to the center of the building.

[Get out NOW!] Joker's voice broke the silence. [Alien vessels incoming!]

Shepard and her team ran out of the building as fast as they could.