Lasara hugged both Rick and Hazel as she prepared to board the shuttle to return to one of the Asari ships orbiting the Earth.

"Thank you both. For everything." She smiled as she shed a tear for her friends who had saved her. Lasara had managed to flag down a Turian patrol as it passed the area in search of Kolshek loyalists. Most of the Batarians had surrendered after Kolsheks arrest but a few die hards fought on.

"Keep in touch." Hazel said as she hugged her again.

"I'll add you on BookFace." Lasara said jokingly. She had been studying human culture in her short stay but she hasn't quite got the hang of everything yet.

Hazel didn't bother correcting her. Rick gave her a kiss on the cheek and then she accended the ramp for her trip back into space.

"The government's talking about taking applications for people who want to visit the Citadel." Hazel said to her boyfriend.

"I think ambassadors and diplomats would get the first option on that don't you think?" He replied with a laugh.

"Well we are the first people to contact a non Batarian alien. I think that should land us in with a shot?"

Rick thought about that "yeah, I guess you're right. Who knows maybe we could get in."

...

After deep disagreements between the United Nations and the Citadel Council on who would try Admiral Kolshek for his crimes, a compromise was reached where the International Criminal Court would try and sentence him, but the sentence would be carried out by the Council, whatever that sentence may be.

The trial only lasted two weeks. The evidence against Kolshek was overwhelming. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of release. Riots broke out as many people had demanded the death penalty. Days later the disgraced former Admiral was flown off world and to a Council run prison. The Batarian Hegemony had washed their hands of him, claiming he had acted on his own without the concent of the government. The council knew this was a lie but they went along with it to save them having to go to war in the Terminus Systems.

...

For the first time in many weeks, the President of the United States breathed in fresh air. The Secret Service had finally unsealed the bunker and escorted the President to his waiting motorcade for the short trip back to the White House. The street back to DC had been cleared of debris and smashed cars.

Construction crews were working round the clock for the Presidents return. The fences around the White House had all been repaired as had much of the damage to the building itself though there was still a lot of scaffolding up over the West Wing as repairs went on.

Richard returned the salute to the Marine as he entered the front doors for the first time in weeks and made his way to the Oval Office. The smell of fire and smoke from the battle that took place during the invasion still slightly lingered. He ran his fingers over the resolute desk which had despite everything, survived unscathed. He sat in the seat that Admiral Kolshek had sat in only a week earlier. He looked right ahead and spoke to the teleprompter as the cameras began to roll. It felt good to address the American people from the Oval Office rather than a bunker.

"My fellow Americans, my fellow Humans. Once again I address you from the White House. Finally, after these many weeks of suffering, we have victory. Admiral Kolshek is in prison where he belongs and we have won back something irreplaceable : Our planet. Our home. Today we all extend our thanks to the men and women who took up arms to fight the invaders and who made the ultimate sacrifice. We remember those who fell in combat but also those civilians whom were so callously murdered or enslaved . We also extend our thanks to the species of the Citadel Council , who's aid in our darkest hour proved indispensable to our ultimate victory. Negotiations are now underway for the opening of diplomatic relations with the wider galaxy. Likewise the nations of Earth are now negotiating on ways to foster a much deeper and meaningful form of cooperation between nations that may eventually lead to a unified humanity in the long term. There is much work to be done. There are roads to be cleared, homes to be rebuilt, businesses to be repaired and people to be healed. We will get there. With hard work and perseverance we will succeed like we always do. So, let's get to work. God bless you all."