2564 January 10th

Epsilon Eridanus II, Planet Reach

Fort Whitecomb, Military Family Accommodations.

Silence reigned mostly in the darkened room, only the occasional breathing of the creature that currently resides in it. The same could not be said for the connecting room but that did not bother the furry creature currently lying on the ground enjoying a nap. Suddenly its ears pricked up as it heard something of interest, and after several sniffing, a big furry tail starts wagging. A door open into the room, introducing natural light into the dark room, with a lunge the furry creature launch itself on the person who open the door, barking joyfully. "Uffff! Down boy, Thomas down!" laughed Commodore Alexia Sheppard as he try to extract himself from his family's German Sheppard's licking feast. With a slight tug, Lieutenant Hannah Sheppard managed to pull Thomas off her husband, in time to see two doors opening and two faces peeking out of them. "John, Jane we're home." Grinned Hannah as she keep a tight hold on Thomas's collar.

Both John and Jane rush out of their room and gave their parents hugs. Alexia and Hannah are rarely home especially when they are deployed on long duration patrol that are common even during peace time. Commodore Alexia Sheppard was in command of the 5th battlegroup of the Eridanus Defense Fleet, his flagship is an Autumn class Cruiser, The Willington, he had seen many space battles especially during the New Colonial Alliance uprising, which saw a short but bloody civil war that erupted between the UNSC and NCA. His wife, Hannah Sheppard served as the weapon officer of the Vindicator class light Battleship, Nemesis, usually assigned as a reaction force to any incursion into UNSC space in the Eridanus sector. Both have served in the navy for a minimum of 10 years with exemplary records. "How was the deployments this time round? Anything interesting?" asked John, Jane nodded in agreement with her older brother, interested in hearing their parents' recent venture into space.

Alexia and Hannah shared a glanced before Alexia replied "Not really much to talk about except a recent incursion from the Citadel Space, those bugger been slowly getting bolder and bolder we're seeing a higher increase in border probes Ever since all contact was lost with the Asari Republic." There was a small gasp from both teenagers before they asked "Were they wiped out?" Hannah shakes her head, "No, not that we are aware off. High Command has been getting edgy though, seems like something big is happening. We recently lost contact with one of our stealth satellite we left in the Tomaras System. A prowler is being sent to investigate a cause. But enough about what we done, how have you two been doing? Catching up in all your studies?" at this mention Jane nodded her head with a grin while a blush spread across John's face. Both teenagers enrolled in the Military Academy on Reach once they finished high schooling. "John, what's wrong?" asked Alexia as he noticed his son's embarrassment. "I got transferred to the Marine Officer School." Mumbled John as he decided to look upset slightly. Alexia raised an eyebrow before giving a hearty laugh. "A Ground Pounder and a jarhead at that! Well done John. Seems like someone finally got a Sheppard back in the marine Corp." grinned Hannah as she hug her son more. "How about you Jane? Where did the academy transfer you to?" Jane gave her brother a grin before replying "Naval Officer Academy". Both Parents looked absolutely delighted that their children have succeeded in graduating from Cadet School to Junior Officer School. Thus likely to continue the Sheppard family tradition of serving in the armed forces of humanity since the Rainforest Wars. After a few minutes of hectic unpacking, the entire family sat around the dinner table enjoying an afternoon meal.

"So John, I noticed you been studying a lot of the old ground warfare. Homework?" Asked Alexia as gave his son a wry smile. John gave a smile before shaking his head, his reply was cut short however when a beeping filled the room. Alexia gave a slight frown before pulling out his personal comn pad, "Alexis Sheppard here, to who am I talking to?" his expression changed from curiosity to grim as he listen closely to what the caller have to say. "Turn on Waypoint?" asked Alexia before he went over to turn on his TV and connect to the UEG's main information network, Waypoint, on it was a news reporting of sudden loss of a civilian convoy from Eden Prime. "Thank you, we'll be leaving soon. Private" with that he turned off his comn pad and looked straight at Hannah. "We been recalled, something serious has happened at Eden Prime and HighCom is setting the armed forces at Defcon 2. Seems like ONI lost a few of their special freighters to an unknown force. Always like those bugger to mix their delivery freights with civilian. And now they are in a panic over their loss."

"What were they carrying to cause ONI such a panic, Dad?" asked Jane as she continue to look at the screen of the News broadcast. "I don't know, but knowing ONI's usual cloak and dagger it can't be good. Hannah let's get ready, we'll be leaving in a few hours." Hannah nodded her agreement before heading back to their room to pack their luggage. "And you two, keep studying hard. We'll see you both when we get back." Said Alexia as he turn towards his kids. A slight smile tug at the corner of his mouth when both his children gave crisp military salutes before hugging tightly.

2564 January 17th

Utopia System, Eden Prime.

Epsilon Defense Station, in geosynchronous Orbit.

There was a dull monotonous beeping as the station's computer runs through the data it receives constantly from its extensive sensor arrays, mostly scanning the coming and going of the freighters. The station itself while relatively new is part of a 5 station defense grid network that currently protects the new agricultural colony to the UNSC. In a throwback to the old days, each station was designed based of the MAC stations used during the human Covenant war with slight improvements, while their main primary power supply is still drawn from surface, each station now retains their own secondary Fusion reactors that provide a backup in case the ground generator fails. "Sir we're picking up something on long range scanners. Nothing solid yet just sensor echoes." Reported the sensor officer as he look through the return data from the sensors. The Station commander gave a slight "Hmm" before tapping commands into his personal comn pad, half a minute later a flight of broadsword interceptors launched to investigate the source of the echoes. Halfway there, suddenly collision alarms sounded throughout the station causing the station commander to drop his comn pad. Swearing, he stopped down to pick up the device as he demanded a report: "Goddamn it sensor, what the hell is going on?"

The Sensor officer frantically look through the incoming data trying to determine the exact cause. After a few seconds of reading "Sensors are reporting three corvette mass object approaching at superluminal speed in real space sir! They are all on a collision course! Estimate of impact in 20 seconds!"

The commander was slightly shocked but his training quickly snapped him back into reality, "Nav engage the maneuvering thrusters, I dun care if we burn them out get us out of their position! Weapons target the predicted path of the objects and fire at will. Comn, send out a distress signal now! Warn High com that Eden Prime is being invaded." Each of the officers quickly snapped to their duties while the Broadswords interceptors begin to turn around having received the automated update to their tactical data. 5 seconds later the MAC station shuddered as it launch a 2000 ton projectile right in the path of one of the object, the projectile impacting the object just as it reach the point of interception.

"Direct hit on Object 1, Reorienting for target 2!" reported the weapon officer as she started to calculate the vector needed to hit the second target. Five seconds later the station fires again however this time the massive slug missed its target sailing harmlessly into deep space. "Damn it, target has engaged evasive. Sir I cann't guaranteed we will be able to take them out in time." Reported the weapon officer grimly as she prepare the station to launch another round.

The Commander gave a grim nod before activating the station intercom system, "All hands this is the commander, all non-essential personals are to evacuate, Marine contingents Alpha to Charlie report to the lifepods. Delta report to the bridge, Get it done people." With that done, the commander look over his command crew, pride glimmering in his eyes. "If we don't survive this, know that it's been an honor serving with you. Weapons, arm everything we got, I don't care if the target are not in range yet. Fire a full spread all across their trajectory. Let's see those bastard get pass this." The weapon officer nodded and carried out her orders engaging the stations missile pods and point defense weaponry throw out a blanket of weapon fire each weaponry firing as fast as their automated reload system could cycle. A few seconds ticked by before a series of explosions dotted a line to the station before a blue tinged explosion detonated along the path to the station. The commander gave another grim smile before ordering the rest of his crew to the life boat connected to the command section. Taking a last moment to set the station to self-destruct he quickly ran to the last life pod waiting for him. However seconds before he could enter the life pod, the station detonated as a Turian Frigate slammed into station at FTL speed its mass effect core going critical from the non-stop FTL jumps. The other lifeboats that were launched earlier were flung around like toys when the station's inbuilt reactor went critical, a few managed to regain control and resume course towards the planet while others were sadly dead in space.

All this while, the battle was carefully watch and orchestrated aboard the flagship of the Turian First fleet. General Septimus Oraka nodded in satisfaction as he watch the lingering explosion of the station. "Using the unmanned ships on board VI to plot FTL straight into the enemy stations was brilliant. All ships move in begin landing operation. Comns send my compliments to Saren, and that he is free to go." After taking one more look at the Garden world, he growled out "Soon the Galaxy will once more know the might of the Turian Hierarchy."

Author Notes: Finally done, been way too hectic to update with all the schoolwork I have to deal with. Enjoy and review.