8 Endgame

--> A pox on the fickle and willfully blind fools! The Council have assembled their fleets, not to secure Ilos, but to sit and await the Geth fleet at the Citadel. They dismiss Benzia's information, dismiss Saren's claims, dismiss the Virmire files, dismiss the Conduit, dismiss the Reapers, and dismiss any warnings I can provide. Moreover, citing the possibility of provoking war in the Terminus Systems, they've forbidden even a stealth op to Ilos; the Normandy is in lockdown and I am forbidden to leave the station.

It's as though they are so afraid of the Reapers they will do anything to prevent me proving the realness of the threat, as though they believe allowing action to counter the danger will validate and fulfill its existence. Fools.

Options are limited. Negotiation with the Council is fruitless, leaving me no recourse but to play the renegade. The clock is ticking, and Saren gets closer to Ilos every moment we wait. So close to his final goal he'll be taking no chances, and will almost certainly have the entire Geth Fleet in tow.

There's only one ship fast enough to get there in time, one ship stealthy enough to slip in without catching every shell from every gun on every ship in the Geth fleet, and that ship is the Normandy, locked and secured in docking.

We have two options. Either we disable the lockdown clamps manually, or we break in to C-Sec Control and disengage the lockdown remotely. Both options pose significant difficulties. Tampering with the clamps will alert C-Sec instantly, and they have officers posted almost immediately on site. Disabling the clamps will take a few moments, and the likelihood of a shoot-out before the ship can be freed is high. Brassing out an entry into C-Sec Control would prove eminently easy for a Spectre, but as the lockdown was ordered by a Councilor, revoking the order will result in immediate arrest.

Update. Captain Anderson wants to meet on the Citadel. I don't know what help he can offer us, but the Captain never does anything without reason. Whatever it is he has in mind, it's bound to be something better than a commiseration-and-sympathy-themed pity party while we wait the for the sky to fall on our heads.

--> We're out! I'd been mistaken. It had been hadn't been the Council that gave the order to lock down the Normandy; it was that skunk Udina. Captain Anderson has broken into Udina's office and lifted the lockdown.

Even with Adams pushing the swift and powerful Normandy beyond recommended parameters, it will take a several hours to reach Ilos. Every moment is precious, and the Normandy hurtles through the stars, outstripping their rays as though even she knows how narrow is our margin, the thinness the knife edge of time we walk, the stakes should we fail, and has channelled the will of every grim and desperate member of her crew into a furious dash to Ilos.

For the crew is indeed aware. I considered withholding from them the truth of the matter, letting them believe that this last step of our mission is officially sanctioned and above board, but no: I owe them honesty. Every man and woman aboard knows we have broken orders and stolen the Normandy; and despite being offered the choice to wash their hands and remain aboard the Citadel, they have instead unanimously agreed to stick to the mission, to see this through to the end, no matter what the cost. I am honoured by the trust they put in me even to the point of mutiny. Let the record show that I assume full responsibility for this action.

I can't afford to think about Captain Anderson right now. He might be imprisoned or even dead. He went above and beyond to give us this chance. We will not fail him.

I’ve told the squad to make sure that both they and their gear are ready. I’m going to get what sleep I can. The Citadel has hailed us several times. I’m not picking up the phone.

--> We've reached Ilos, and successfully eluded the Geth fleet in orbit. A large detachment of Geth troops have already landed in the ruins. Joker will have to pull off a drop under impossible conditions to get us in. No reason things should get easy now.

--> Mission complete. We did it. We’ve won. For now. Saren is dead and Sovereign destroyed. It took the combined firepower of the Citadel and Alliance fleets to bring him down.

The Reaper did indeed lead the Geth Armada against the Citadel, and tore through their defences like a bullet. Saren went in through a different way; the Conduit, a Prothean-made Relay built secretly on Ilos linking directly into the heart of the Citadel. Saren and an army of Geth stormed the Citadel from the inside and commandeered the Station, handing control over to Sovereign.

But we were hard on his heels. A few moments later, and Sovereign would have opened the Citadel to Dark Space, and The Reapers, hundreds of them, maybe thousands, would have poured through. We brought with us a gift from Vigil, a failing Prothean VI hidden in the crumbling Prothean ruins on Ilos. While we engaged Saren, Vigil entered the station’s systems, severing Saren’s control and turning the Citadel from our damnation into our salvation. Instead of Reapers from the edge of the Galaxy, the Relays opened to the awaiting Alliance Fleet. Human vessels swept in, saving the floundering and sundered Turian and Asari defences. The assailants driven off and the survivors rallied, all ships turned and unleashed hell upon Sovereign. More ships died in battle against that one Reaper than did against the entire Geth Fleet. Thank God we made it in time.

Anderson not only eluded C-Sec and survived the Geth attack, he saved Udina's life as well. The irate ambassador nurses a bruised jaw, courtesy of the Captain's intrusion to lift the lockdown.

In gratitude for Humanity’s actions, the Council offered us full recognition as a Citadel species, with one of our own holding a place on the Council. For what it’s worth, I’ve put forward my word on behalf of Captain Anderson.

The Normandy Crew and Command have been officially pardoned. I am glad, for there is much work to do. Cerberus and a dozen other lesser threats must be dealt with, and the greater threat, the Reapers, still remains. We've thwarted their immediate plans, but they will not accept defeat. One way or another, they're still coming. When they get here, we need to be ready. I intend to see that they receive a warm welcome.

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