AN: This is an idea I've had for a while now. I'm putting it up for adoption because between work, study, and writers block i just don't have time to do it justice.
To anyone who is interested in taking on this idea, all I ask is that you PM me with the name the story; and that you mention where you got the idea in the
first AN. One last thing, the chapter after one is a time line starting in 2077 with Liara's birth, and ending in 2183 with the events of ME.
In between are some AU events that come as a result of the ME/HP crossover.

NEW AN: After reading a review, I've decided to take the timeline down. In hindsight, I realize that the only thing in it that a observant reader couldn't have guessed; was a spoiler. In better news, also due to this review I've changed my mind about abandoning this story. Anyone who was intending to take up this story, are still welcome to do so. But I think I'm going to take a crack at again.

Illyria, Plant Elysium, Vetus System, Petra Nebula.
June-5-2176
10:00 PM local time.

Gunnery Chief Andrea Shepard stumbled out of a bar, supporting her friends and squad mates. It was a little earlier than they normally left during shore leave. But her idiotic friends insisted that they drink Firewhiskey, Andrea had been drinking it since she was seventeen, and as a result had a certain tolerance to it. Her squad mates on the other hand, did not. This was why, so early in the night, she was the only one in her group that was even somewhat lucid.

Andrea had a thin frame, and an athletic build. She wasn't particularly tall, standing at a hundred and seventy-two centimeters. Her skin was pale, and had the appearance of porcelain. Her unblemished face was heart shaped, and had high cheekbones and a pert nose. Her eyes were a green so light, that they almost looked gray and had a gold ring around the pupils. Her hair was wavy, and came down just passed her shoulders. It was light brown, with blond highlights, and red lowlights.

She knew that most humans, indeed even most asari; would think her pretty, if not beautiful. Andrea didn't care, and rarely wore makeup or jewelry. Unlike her fellow Alliance marines, who were all wearing the regulation off duty uniform; Andrea was wearing the uniform robes of a battle sorceress. The open, hooded robes were in the Alliance colors, dark blue, trimmed in gold.

Corporal Richard Grant, whom she was trying to keep from falling over said. "Anndreeea, why don't we ditch theshes losers; and find a roomm some, hic where. I promise I'll rock your, hic, world." Andrea just laughed at this. Had he been anyone else, she would have been offended; and more than likely would have reported him. Corporal Grant, however, even when drunk off his arse, was still harmless. So once she was done laughing at it, she replied.

"Sorry little Dick, but you know I don't swing that way." Corporal Grant sighed, and grumbled. "Can't blame a, hic, guy for trying." A few minutes later the wizards wireless, which the muggles still called radios; beeped in Andrea's ear, telling her that there was an incoming call. "This is Commander Sanchez, of the SSV Agincourt; whoevers hearing this report in." Andrea touched her hand to her ear to respond, and said. "This is Gunnery Chief Andrea Shepard, reporting in, Sir."

She heard back a few seconds later. "Gunny, are you sober?" Andrea tried to clear her head, and said. "More than the rest of my squad is, sir." She heard a sigh in her ear, and then the commander said. "A few moments ago, a massive fleet of what looks to be pirates and batarian slavers dropped out of FTL in the system, and are now forming up to attack us." The Commander paused for a moment to let what he had said sink in.

"There are too many of them for us to stop all their landing parties, so you and your squad need to ready the colony for a ground assault, as best as you're able." Andrea felt a chill go down her spine, at the thought of what was about to happen. But she remembered her training, calmed her breathing, and responded. "Aye, aye Commander." Andrea then looked at her squad, and tried to think of a way to sober them up quickly.

Not able to think of a better idea, she pulled out her wand from her wrist holster. Her wand was ten inches long, and was made of blackthorn and dragon heartstring. Andrea pointed her wand at Corporal Grant's head and said. "Aguamenti." A jet of cold water shot from her wand, and hit the Corporal square in the face.

He sputtered for a moment, and then looked at her in disbelief. Andrea ignored the look she was getting from the Corporal, and proceeded to do the same to all her other squad mates. Once done, she said in a brisk and commanding tone. "Alright, you heard the commander. We need to find a police station, and get them to help us organize the civilians into a militia." Andrea turned to look at Private Yamato, and said.

"Shifty, get on your OmniTool and find me the nearest station. Hawkeye, find the tallest building you can, and get to its roof. Run over watch for us, and let me know if you see any drop ships, whether they look like bandits or not. Shifty, you got that station yet?" The Private looked up from her OmniTool and nodded sharply, saying.

"Yes ma'am. There's one six blocks to the south." Andrea nodded to the young Private, and said. "Alright then, everybody move out." Ten of them followed Andrea south, while Corporal Richard 'Hawkeye' Grant went north-west to the tallest building in the city. Six minutes later, they entered the police station. As soon as they opened the door, they were hit with a cacophony of sound.

The room before them was a picture of chaos; it looked like most of the people in the room had no idea what they should do. A moment later someone walked up to them and asked. "Are you the marines I was told to expect?" Andrea stepped forward and said. "We are. Gunnery Chief Shepard." She then extended her hand. The man shook her proffered hand, and replied. "Commissioner Collins. I assume you know what's going on." Andrea shrugged, and answered.

"More or less. What's the situation here? How many officers do you have?" Collins sighed, and said. "Of those that are fit to fight. Ten, I'd say." She looked at him in disbelief and asked. "So few?" Collins frowned, and said. "Our job is mostly investigations. The patrols are done by security mechs. " 'Finally, some good news.' Andrea thought to herself, and then asked. "How many of those do you have?" "A little under a hundred."

"Alright then. Commissioner, I need a Three-dimensional map of the city, and the surrounding area." Andrea said in a brisk tone. "Right this way ma'am." Collins said, and led them to what looked like a conference room with a map table in the front. Once they were standing in front of the table, Andrea asked. "Does the city have an integrated air defense network, Commissioner?" Collins grimaced at her question, and answered.

"Yes, we do. But unfortunately, it's only a medium range system, and it can't target anything under the city's wall." Andrea called upon her tactical training, and said. "Then they'll have to land outside of its coverage, and approach the city on foot. They can't land to the north or west, because the higher ground would allow us to target them with the city's AA turrets. And they can't land to the east, because there's no cover. If they were to come in from that way, we could pick them off at range."

"So that means that they can only land to the south, on the other side of the forest." Collins said, with a small bit of hope in his voice. "Either that, or in a clearing. Either way though, we know where their point of entry is going to be." Andrea said, pointing to the city's southernmost gatehouse on the map. She then asked.

"What's the state of the city's armory? What types of weapons do you have, and how many of each? How many thermal clips do you have? And finally, how many civilians of fighting age would you estimate are armed already?" Collins was silent for a moment after her questions, but then he answered.

"To answer your last question, I would guess that there are maybe thirty, or so people in the city who have any weapons that would be of use. Most of them are hunters, but a few are ex Alliance. That's not counting the people who have handguns, but I'd rather that they stay in a fallback position, to protect the unarmed civilians." At this Collins look up at Andrea, to see what she thought of it; and at her nod of agreement he continued.

"As for our own weapon stores, it could be worse. We have twenty battle rifles, and SMG's, along with ten shotguns and pistols. Finally, we have one long range sniper rifle, and one medium range sniper rifle. And what was your second question?"
At her hard look Collins said. "Right, thermal clips. I believe we have twenty-thousand." As soon as he stopped talking Andrea turned to one of her men and said.

"Private Kramer, go grab that Long range rifle, a spotter scope, and as many boxes of thermal clips as you can carry; and get to Corporal Grant ASAP. Once there, the two of you are to set up to target all paths leading to the southern gatehouse.
Prioritize anyone who looks to be carrying heavy weapons or explosives." "Aye, aye ma'am." Responded the Private. Andrea then said.

"Collins, get on whatever emergency alert system you have, and let the civilians know that they need to go to the most secure building you have near the center of the city. Send one of your men to organize them, and keep them calm. Also, send out a call for all persons between the ages of seventeen and forty-five, who have combat or hunting rifles; to report to the southern gatehouse as soon as they are able." At his nod of acknowledgement, she turned to the others in the room, and said.

"Everyone else, head down to the armory, and load every weapon and box of ammo in to whatever vehicles the station has. Once that's done, head to the gatehouse immediately." To this she received a chorus of, "Aye, aye ma'am!" After they were gone, Andrea turned on the spot; and suddenly had the unpleasant feeling of being forced through a tube much smaller than she was. A moment later she appeared in front of the southern gate.

As soon as she got her bearings, Andrea began inscribing runes on the gate, to strengthen it. Once she was done with that, she went to the top of the wall; and cast, "Amoveo gleba" which she used to make three trenches in a semicircle around the gate. The first trench was a little under a meter deep, and a little over a meter wide. At the bottom she conjured small barbed metal spikes, and filled it with muddy water to obscure them. The second trench was about half a meter behind the first one.

It was nearly two meters deep, and just as wide. Like the previous one, it had barbed spikes at the base. Unlike the previous one however, which had square-dug walls; the innermost wall of the second trench was slopped, and led directly to a parapet made from the displaced soil from the three trenches. The parapets slope was angled so that, despite its height; it would offer those below no cover from the city wall. The parapet ended with a shear drop to the final trench.

The last trench was a two meters wide, and a little more than a meter deep, which when combined with the height of the parapet; meant that the batarians would have to get down a four meter drop. As two finishing touches, she conjured rows of razor-wire, which she attached to the slope of the parapet with a permanent sticking charm; and one meter long barbed spikes at the base of the last trench. Just as Andrea was finishing, she heard the hum of an air-craft overhead.

She looked up and saw a batarian drop-ship heading in to land. Then in her ear, Andrea heard the voice of Corporal Grant say. "Gunny." She immediately put her hand to her ear and responded. "I see it, Corporal. Has Private Kramer linked up with you yet?" "Yes, ma'am. We're setting up now." He replied, to which she said. "Good. Give me a heads up if either of you see movement."