recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Chapter 101: In Dread Despoina, Dead Leviathan Waits Dreaming

### Summary

Shepard and Garrus, though exhausted, hold a tiebreaker up in the captains’ cabin.

The next stop on the victory tour is Sur’Kesh, and it is only for formalities and to avoid slighting the salarians. Shepard sends her thoughts to Garrus without Entangling, and Major Kirrahe is up to something.

The day after their ceremony on Sur’Kesh, Shepard and Garrus return to the Helos Medical Facility to try to figure out what is happening to them.

They start by observing Shepard “listening” to Garrus’ subvocals, before moving on to communication via Entanglement, and finally to sharing memories.The doctors watch in horror as Shepard relives her death above Alchera and her neural pathways go dark before coming back. After giving the two of them a break, the doctors return and ask if everything is alright. Shepard accidentally speaks ‘through’ Garrus, taking control of him. When she realizes what is going on, she lets go of him- leaving the two of them extremely disoriented, and everyone (especially Garrus) greatly disturbed.

The next day, Garrus bows out of further experiments for the time being and keeps his distance from Shepard. For the second day of testing, the doctors enlist Liara’s help to see if Shepard can communicate with people other than Garrus. The meld fails and Shepard (or something through her) speaks using her voice and mind to the doctors and attacks them. She tells them “***You are here because of me!***” before Liara uses stasis on Shepard and Dr. Larin takes the opportunity to tranquilize her.

### Title Meaning

2181 Despoina is the location of the Leviathan in Mass Effect 3. The title likely points towards Shepard's Leviathan/Harbinger-like behavior at the end of the chapter.

At the time of publishing, istie appears to have felt that the title was rather on the nose.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Every eye emoji under the sun, early releases of scenes (-eyebrow waggle-), and turian expletives.
Chapter 37: The Klixen and the Maws

The *Normandy* picks up Wrex and Grunt. Shepard takes the opportunity to introduce Viatrix to her godfather and brother, much to their surprise and delight. A spec-ops team clears the Citadel. Tali (extremely stressed) and Joker (teasing Tali to make her less stressed), along with the crew of the *Normandy*, oversee the beginning of reactivating the web of mass relays.

### Title Meaning

The Klixen and the Maws is clearly a krogan equivalent or play on the human idiom "The birds and the bees", referring to sexual reproduction (ie. where babies come from).
List of Important Characters

This is a list of all the important characters within EOTA. Some characters belong to multiple categories - some are important side characters, for instance, whilst others are both Alliance and Council, and so on. If you can't find them by searching their name, looking at these main lists should help.

### The Shepards

* Jane Shepard
* John Shepard
* Hannah Shepard
* Jan Minkowski
* Emilia Minkowski
* Robert Minkowski
* Shepard

### The Vakarians

* Garrus Vakarian
* Solana Vakarian
* Aelianus Vakarian
* Castis Vakarain
* Aerene Vakarian
* Evadne Vakarian
* Viatrix Ismena Vakarian
* Akantha Vakarian
* Seneca Vakarian

### Close Friends

* David Anderson
* EDI
* Jeff "Joker" Moreau
* Karin Chakwas
* Liara T'Soni
* Kaidan Alenko
* Tali'Zorah vas Alarei nar Rayya
* Urdnot Bakara
* Urdnot Grunt
* Urdnot Wrex

### Enemies

* Alexander Trechenkov
* Agent Mary
* Clara Goyle
* Minos
* The Marquis d'Apien
Chapter 116: My Ship, My Crew, My Mission

### Summary

We flash between May 21st, 2188, where Garrus is struggling to hold his own in hand to hand combat against a turian opponent (later revealed to be the Marquis) and the hunt leading up to the fight, starting from the *Normandy* leaving the Citadel.

Garrus gives a speech to his crew, unaware that Shepard is listening to him. Garrus suddenly realizes why Shepard insisted she step back, and Shepard cries- mostly because of how proud she is of him.

Once underway, Garrus gives Kaidan, Wynn, Vega, and Coats the briefing on their real mission. Their first stop is Omega, where he meets with Aria regarding the Marquis’ whereabouts (what he is doing is up in the air- the contact is a Madame, so he could be indulging himself, picking up “product” or a combination thereof. Aria and Garrus briefly discuss Aria’s motivation for her assistance.

Two weeks into their voyage, Garrus tells the general crew that they have an additional mission to the official one (we are hunting a criminal kingpin) but tells them that they are not to tell anyone.

On Omega, Aria’s contact points the team into Omega’s Kima District. Garrus discovers a mark on a locked door in his old stomping grounds: A set of burnt orange stylised wings with a black flower on top. Taking the hint, Garrus leads his squad up through the tunnels towards his team’s old headquarters, where he stumbles into a trap. The Marquis has been waiting for him, separates Garrus from the rest of his squad, and the two of them fight hand to hand. Unfortunately, the Marquis gains the upper hand, and slices Garrus’ neck.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

istie dying of heat while packing to move. everyone else dying of heat while trying not to die of heat. geez
Chapter 82: I Am Become A Name

Mini-Arc: “Shepard on Trial” continues.

Shepard dreams of the Illusive Man, who tells her “I’m here because you are here. We’re all here because you’re here.” Shepard’s terror wakes Hannah two decks up. Shepard’s dream lays heavy on her as she cuddles Garrus but she eventually returns to dreamless sleep. In the morning Shepard herself is called to testify at last. Prosecutor Lincoln opens with a simple and terrible question: “How did you survive the destruction of the Normandy SR-1?” As she tries to not perjure herself, Shepard sees Ashley Williams for just a moment in the back of the courtroom; when her attention returns to Lincoln she decides she’s done hiding and upends the plans of everyone involved by telling the unvarnished truth. Said unvarnished truth absolutely destroys Lincoln’s composure. In a last-ditch effort to undermine Shepard’s character and regain her ability to frame the issue, Lincoln demands what right Shepard had to choose what’s right for anyone else. Shepard smashes the Paragon Interrupt as she demands they remember how terrible the Reapers were, why she stood against them, and how badly it cost her. She concludes by reminding them “We’re all here because of me. So if that’s treason, you’re welcome, I guess.”
Chapter 102: Compromised

### Summary

Shepard wakes from being tranquilized, feeling disoriented and not sure what led up to her being in the strange bed. As she considers what happened, she hears a strong call in her mind, inviting her to Suen. Though she is completely convinced a trip to Suen is necessary immediately, Garrus is not convinced- mostly because her feelings appear to be coming out of nowhere to him, and with no reason. After being left alone in her room, Shepard decides that she’ll go on her own.

She steals the STG interceptor I’a Mailevai, and is gone before anyone else is awake, with a brief stop at Omega to grab some weapons and a hardsuit that can stand Suen’s hostile environment.

Shepard’s absence is discovered early in the morning, but long after she had left. Garrus is swamped with rage, fear, and guilt as he works with the chief of security for the Helos Institute to trace Shepard’s path to escape. Afterwards, Garrus remembers her insistence to go to Suen and orders the Austerlitz intp pursuit.

When Shepard arrives at Suen with her stolen interceptor, she is greeted by a waiting rachni ship to take her to the surface.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

The cowardice of the Leviathans, more AU scenes than you can shake a stick at, and Saren's canonical age.
Chapter 71: One Thing at a Time

Shepard makes Emily guess about Viatrix’s parents. Emily drops the bombshell of the upcoming Council Commencement Gala. Shepard hires Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani as her personal assistant/ press secretary.  A man in the shadows is unhappy about the information contained in the interview, the resulting statements, and the change being nurtured by them.
Chapter 163: Something Something Normandy Party Something Something

### Summary

Garrus’ father does some good natured trolling. The two of them talk about nerves and family expectations before Garrus leaves for his bachelor party (planned by Joker with no input from him). Joker takes the men to a turian-style bathhouse for relaxation. Hannah Shepard takes Vi for the day while Kasumi whisks Shepard away for a private mud treatment with the ladies. The girls express that Shepard is attractive and is not an abomination while the good Dr. Chakwas and Samantha Traynor insist Shepard enjoy her spa treatment. Afterward, the ladies take their designer dresses out to the range. At the end of the night, the two groups meet up for karaoke in the VIP lounge in Purgatory. Shepard serenades the group with a passage from Illium Nights and Garrus proposes they perform the greatest trick of all- getting married.

### Title Meaning

The title is likely a reference to the Family Guy episode retelling the story of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, itself a reference to an earlier episode "Barely Legal". In this episode, there is a joke about figuring a formula for great dialogue- "Something, something, something, dark side. Something, something, something, complete."

It might also reference the ever meme-able Coolio's "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)", from which we get "Ain't no party like a West Coast party".

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Inter-xenolinguistic wordplay, krakentoa, and chouxnuts.
Chapter 176: Deference for Darkness

### Summary

Shepard and the squad descend down past the prothean research facility into the older inusannon part of the base. Walking past conductive walls and navigating a labyrinth, they descended further into the facility mostly in silence and darkness, aside from the walls lighting up with their footsteps.

A central platform lowers the squad into a dark series of rooms with unusual furnishings, many of them suggesting water. The fourth room contains tanks filled with some kind of liquid and one of them appears to contain bones. Before the four of them can investigate further, they are ambushed by humanoids in shadowy armor. Liara and James are dazed by some kind of mental attack, and the weapons cut through hardsuit and shield as if they aren’t even there. James is struck, and Shepard is forced to use all of her wit and space magic to get her team out of danger. In the firefight one of her nodes in her leg is damaged.

On board the *Normandy*, Garrus and Shepard come to the difficult decision that they cannot both go on missions together for fear of orphaning Viatrix.

While Shepard convalesces, Tali works on transporting the geth pod that Shepard had used to interface with the geth collective. Shepard requests that EDI find for them the largest intact geth superstructure, with the highest concentration of servers and databanks. EDI settles on a place in dark space due to Legion once mentioning a project to her during the Reaper War. EDI believes it is the best shot at something undestroyed. Shepard agrees and gives orders to see what they would need for such a long journey.

Later that day, Shepard holds a debriefing with James, Liara, and Garrus to discuss what had happened with their last mission. Liara rules out the attackers being asari- the extremely rare technique she knows about only works on other asari. Garrus hypothesizes that the attack might have to do with the iborihe due to how it felt. Shepard has her own theory: The person who got to Ilos before them and attacked them was her father.

### Title Meaning

"Deference for Darkness" is the title of a track from the game *Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack*, containing the tracks *Rain*, *Trailhead*, and *Guiding Hand.* The music can be considered the "theme" of the game, and is quiet and melancholy. Much of ODST is spent from the prospective of ODST "Rookie", who is attempting to put together the mystery of what happened to his team after a disastrous drop pod launch by retracing his team's steps and finding clues. Similarly, Shepard is finding herself retracing her father's steps in the inusannon base.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Plot holes with oblivious-protagonist lampshades, Nihlus and Samara's Get-Along Shirt, and how Garrus wears sunglasses.
Chapter 132: You Can Buy Anything on Illium

### Summary

Garrus, Liara, and Aria meet at Har’stein Weiak’s mansion- a property Aria has purchased at a fire-sale price and intends to turn into an entertainment complex. In the meantime, it provides an excellent meeting spot and the asari criminal empress declares demolition via biotics to be excellent therapy.

The three discuss worries over Shepard’s health and mysterious implants, their success in commandeering approximately half the Marquis’ assets, as well as attempting to find out who tried to kill Kaidan. Liara decides to turn her attention to the last issue, starting with their only evidence: the chemical profile of the neurotoxin used.

Her search leads her back to Noveria’s Port Hanshan, where she meets with the new Administrator Lorik Qui’in, who directs her to start with the Sirta Foundation and sends Officer Gianna Parasini along as backup. Getting in turns out to be too easy- they find themselves in a Minos ambush after being admitted to the biomedical wing. While they dispatch the soldiers handily, the scientists escape with the data they were looking for.

The next day, Glyph alerts Liara to a connection between some shell companies owned by the Marquis and Shepard. Liara glances at the data and moves up her bridesmaid gown fitting.

Once alone with Aeran’Celet, Liara ensures they can’t be overheard and flatly asks Aeran “What does he have on you, and is he using you to get to Shepard?”. Aeran initially denies knowing what Liara is asking about, but quickly confirms that the Marquis has her deeply in debt to him (buying him out is going to take years of Shepard’s patronage), and he’d forced Aeran to pass along several notes in her dresses as well as inform him of any upcoming fitting appointments Shepard has. Liara seizes on the knowledge that Aeran has a way to contact the sadistic turian, and offers protection and a buyout if Aeran can tell Liara anything he tells her- especially if it has anything to do with his hiding spots.

Aeran replies that she can, in fact, provide a list of his hiding spots.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

A considerably more-organized channel list, the impressive breadth of knowledge represented amongst EOTA readers, and Jeff.
Sentzke

*“Gods can be felled.”*

Lieutenant Sentzke is a high-ranking officer within Minos- often seen directly advising Clara Goyle in plans of action. Clara, herself, seems to resent Sentzke for having some special relationship with their General, Alexander Trechenkov.

### Description

Sentzek is described as an extremely tall, broad shouldered pale woman. She appears to be not easily angered- but insistent on action. She appears to favor heavy-handed approaches, advising Clara to impose martial law to quell the Seekers' uprising and to focus on preparing humanity for the Reaper's return. She also believes it is Shepard herself, not her child that the Reapers want. She also appears to be one of those shown visions by Trechenkov, which might explain her fanaticism.

### Minos

It is unclear where Sentzke came from prior to becoming Alexander Trechenkov's military right-hand, though Cerberus might be a decent After Trechenkov left Earth to peruse his mission, Clara Goyle quickly abdicated her authority in military matters to Sentzke so she could focus on the civilian government. Sentzke takes the job of preparing humanity for the Reaper's return. To that end, Sentzke has focused her efforts on tightening their control on the civilian population; one of her first acts was the execution of Min Chu Lee on November 18th, 2188, who was charged as the instigator of the Wedding Day Riot.

On November 27th, Lt. Sentzke lead a contingent of Minos troops attempting to capture Rear Admiral Shepard by assaulting the Sunrise House orphanage. Despite a force of almost two dozen Minos troops, Shepard flung Sentzke into the door of one of their ATVs, fried a gunner with a neural shock, and forced a reluctant retreat.

### Easter Eggs

Lt. Sentzke's name is a reverence to Naomi-010 of the Halo franchise- this is hinted at due to her calm demeanor and "impossibly tall" size.

#### Meanwhile, on the Discord Sever

Sentzke's height was instantly a point of discussion- bringing images of the Steven Universe "GIANT WOMAN!" meme, and equally-memable Resident Evil's Lady Dimitrescu.
Chapter 52: The Road Goes Ever On and On

### Locations

Helios Medical Facility, Rannadril SSV Normandy SR-2 (Geosynchronous orbit over Rannadril)

### Major Characters

Aelianus Vakarian Evadne Vakarian Garrus Vakarian Solana Vakarian Viatrix Vakarain Commander Shepard Tali’Zora vas Normandy

## Chapters

### Next Chapter

Chapter 53: There’s No Frigate Called the Normandy

The Vakarian family takes care of the remaining formalities for Evadne and say goodbye to each other for now. Shepard, Garrus, and Kaidan discuss the merits of the Alliance’s plan to promote Shepard to Captain. As acting CO, Garrus comes up with an itinerary for the *Normandy* which will include overdue repairs. Dr. Chakwas asks to have the paperwork done for Sha’ira to act as a therapist for Shepard. Bakara and Wrex are expecting. Garrus receives an encrypted file containing a self-deleting threat: “We know what she is. We’re coming for her. The Reapers will return.”
Chapter 64: In the Bleak Midwinter

Part one of 2187's Christmas Break.

Garrus calls Hannah Shepard for advice on handling her daughter’s foul mood. Hannah surmises that while Shepard herself may not know what is upsetting her, there are a lot of parallels between her current mental state and her state when she escaped Illium. Garrus gets the idea to surprise Shepard by decorating the apartment for the Christmas holiday to cheer her up and get her focused on something more pleasant. Shepard is delighted to tears and the two of them decorate the tree together. Later, the two of them settle down in front of the fireplace while Shepard tells Garrus about what her Christmases were like growing up.
Chapter 58: New Lights in the Sky

### Locations

QFV Rayya, (Geosynchronous orbit above Rannoch) SSV Normandy SR-2 (Geosynchronous orbit above Rannoch)

### Major Characters

Garrus Vakarain Tali’Zora vas Alaeri Commander Shepard

## Chapters

### Next Chapter

Chapter 59: Of Stars and Crosses

Garrus and Tali discuss agriculture and the geth. Shepard talks about how much Vi hates having her head covered, the practicality of helmets with different transparency settings, and paranoid squadmates.Tali officially accepts an incumbent position on the Admiralty Board as opposed to interim and is appointed to be captain of the *Alarei*. Shepard gives her approval and releases her from her crew. EDI requests permission from Garrus to ask Tali for help in adjusting her code to allow her mobile platform to leave the *Normandy* again, so she could be next to Joker when he receives his commendations.
Chapter 168: The Starlight and the Seeker

### Summary

Shepard and Garrus continue their blended culture wedding theme by combining the human tradition of a “First Dance” and the turian tradition of a “First Fight”, to the amazement and delight of their closest friends and family. From there, everyone lets their metaphorical hair down and celebrates. Eventually though, the night ages and Cortez drives the newlyweds home: the Normandy. There, they indulge themselves in their own brand of oneness- carnaly, emotionally, and spiritually.

### Title Meaning

*The Starlight and the Seeker* is an ancient turian poem. Garrus requested Wrex read an excerpt from it as part of his Wedding to Shepard.

### Easter Eggs

The tango music played in the first dance/fight is a mostly instrumental version of El Tango de Roxanne from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

#### Discord Highlights

The continued joys of home and dog ownership, suddenly (but not surprisingly) gaining two children, and casual murder confessions. (no, not the kids.)
Factions & Areas

Areas are the official names of certain landmasses on the map. Factions are formed on those.

## Areas

The SMP has many unique areas, all of which are in certain parts on the SMP.

#### Current areas:

* The Mainland -spawn-
* The Northern Land/africa wannabe (TNL)
* The Wild Western Landmass (TWWL)
* The South (TS)
* Shopping District
* The North Spikes (TNS)
* Flower Mountains (FM)
* Jungle (JM)

## Factions/teams

The SMP also has many unique teams, all of which are in the certain parts on the SMP.

#### Current factions:

* Capitalize Meadow (TWWL)
* Kingdom of FunCoolGuy (TS)
* Creeper Kingdom (TWWL)
* Crystal Plains (TNL)
* Dirt-topia (FM)
* Factionless
Chapter 66: I’ll Be Home for Christmas

End of 2187 Christmastime.

Garrus works on his standard for taking his Alliance Oath and talks to Shepard about his native East Cipritinian accent (very sexy). Aeilanus and Hannah join Shepard, Garrus, and Vi for a Christmas gift exchange. Shepard also surprises Garrus with quoting lines from a Palavin love chronicle in Venian for him.

	+ Christmas sweater (from Hannah)
	+ Bottle of alcohol (from Samara)
	+ Sexy Couples gift (from Jack)
	+ Winged Pin with Evadne’s markings (from Shepard)

* Shepard:
	+ Christmas sweater (from Hannah)
	+ Shopping for new wardrobe (from Liara)
	+ Keepsake baby book (from Karin Chakwas)
	+ Clockwork geth (from Tali)
	+ Diaper bag of many things (from Samara)
	+ Model of the turian ship Ravuna and the prothean ship Penumbra Apex (from Garrus)
	+ Model of the Geneva and the Parigoria (Hannah)
	+ Guide Star Necklace (from Garrus)
	+ Evadne’s courting-gift dagger (from Aelianus)

* Vi:
	+ Onesie (from Nana Hannah Shepard)
	+ Board Books (from Liara)
	+ Doll in Spanish dress (from James)
	+ Cosmic Mobile, Normandy night-light (from Kaidan)
	+ Purple, gold, and silver blanket (from Tali)
	+ Turian “teddy bear” (from Kahlee Sanders and David Anderson)
	+ Hoverpod with tactical cloak (from Miranda and Kasumi)
	+ Ancient stonework cradle (from Wrex and Bakara)
	+ Set of blocks, Thessian animal noisemakers/rattles (from Samara)
Chapter 113: Velvet Gloves and Gauntlets

### Summary

After the arena match, Shepard (clearly unhappy) walks with authority and rage back toward the locker room, ignoring the press and waiting fans. When she arrives, she realizes that Garrus is in profound distress and Dr. Chakwas is trying to strip him of his armor to check for injuries. James and Shepard help finish stripping the hardsuit from him and Chakwas expresses in frustration that there is no physical injury for her to treat- but Garrus is purring and the last time Shepard heard him make that noise was after the rocket struck his face on Omega. Desperate to help, Shepard attempts to take on Garrus’ pain.

That night they try to hold each other, traumatized from the VI experience feeling too real. The comfort they find in each other is not up for the task tonight.

Khonine and Balak talk about their options for the necessary capital for rebuilding their civilization. Khonine suggests going to Shepard, who has already pledged to help them. Balak points out that Shepard doesn’t do backroom deals and no batarian will respect him if he accepts help from her. He assures Khonine she won’t have to feel guilty for what she doesn’t know about. Khonine chides him for lying to himself.

Balak pays a visit to the Marquis’ home on Digeris to secure what he needs as a business deal. The Marquis is happy to assist- he just wants forty percent of every state-owned business or capital, preferential treatment in contract bids, and a shadow vote worth twenty percent of all eligible voters. Balak balks over this last demand, but the Marquis has him over a barrel and they both know it.

Very early in the morning, Admiral Steven Hackett is parsing through data and confirms his worst suspicions before passing the information on to Hannah Shepard: though he may as well as be a ghost, Robert Minkowski had traveled to Palaven, stalked the Primarch, sabotaged his helmet, and had sniped the eezo core in an attempt to kill him.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

The bloody Marquis keeps showing up everywhere, bitching about scanning planets, and istie apparently starts singing out of nowhere?
Chapter 23: What Once Was Lost

Garrus and Aelianus briefly catch up, as Aelianus provides what little he knows regarding the state of their nuclear family. When Garrus asks about Shepard, Aelianus brings him to the *Parigoria* to see her. There, he deals with the double shock of Shepard’s precarious state in the reaper technology, and that she is pregnant with their child.
Chapter 69: Because It’s Right

### Locations

UT-47 Kodiak Drop Shuttle, Illium Council Chambers, Citadel Citadel Tower Entrance, Citadel Ramlat Inn, Citadel

### Major Characters

Garrus Vakarian Captain “Commander” Shepard Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani

## Chapters

### Previous Chapter

Chapter 68: I’d Tell You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You

### Next Chapter

[Chapter 70: Marriages of State]

Garrus broods over the information he’s gleaned from the crime scene and the name that Seri provided: Ka’hairal Balak. The new Council meets for the first time. Balak tries to have a fight with Shepard; Shepard tells him that she will fight for a new home for his people- not out of pity but “because it is right”. Balak finds himself drawn into helping the galaxy-wide rebuilding effort. After the meeting, Shepard is swarmed by the paparazzi, almost triggering a flashback and is saved by an unlikely person: Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani. Archangel pays Balak a visit.
THV Acumen Ensium

The THV *Acumen Ensium* is a turian dreadnought and Flagship of the Hierarchy's Second Fleet.

In the aftermath of the Battle of London, the Charon Relay shut down and the combined fleets found themselves trapped within the Sol system. The turians were lucky in that they happened to be very well represented from a governmental standpoint; Citadel Councilor Sparatus, War Primarch Adrien Victus, Praetor Aelianus Vakarian, and later his son Legate Garrus Vakarian after he arrived in the Sol system following the *Normandy's* reactivating of the Relay. As a result the three, then four, men met regularly on board the *Acumen Ensium* to help lead their people with the ship acting as the *de facto* seat of government.
Chapter 57: You Keep Using That Word

### Major Characters

Garrus Vakarian Commander Shepard Aelianus Vakarain Councilor Tevos Councilor Valern Councilor Sparatus

## Chapters

### Next Chapter

Chapter 57.5: The Icing on the Cake

Garrus comes home in his hardsuit and Shepard updates him on her day. The two of them have some personal time before Aelianus calls the apartment to tell them that he has just been named Primarch of Palaven. He is exhausted and things are looking bad planetside. Shepard expresses her frustration with the salarian Dalatrass Linron regarding the krogan. Councilor Tevos suggests having Bakara make the argument for the krogan in the new council they are forming. They then turn their minds to an upcoming memorial service to mark the one year anniversary of the end of the war. When the Council asks what Shepard did at the Crucible, she tells them she doesn’t remember, and accidentally tells the council about Viatrix. Shepard talks to Garrus about how terrible his near-death on Omega (Mass Effect 2) was for her.
Chapter 96: Non Ministrari, Sed Ministrare

### Summary

Shepard, Vi, and Garrus journey to Palaven. When Shepard asks Garrus why he is so quiet, he reminds her that the last time he saw his home was when it was burning in Menae’s sky. Regardless, Shepard is there with him- and that is more than enough.

As they fly over the surface towards their destination in the drop shuttle, Garrus is horrified at the amount of damage. After landing and picking up their skycar, they head for the temporary Comitium in Cipritine to speak to Aelianus.

Afterward, Garrus walks the charred streets where he used to travel as a child and takes in the destruction as he heads for the Vakarian home. Shepard meets him there and the two of them talk about how the house used to look before Aelianus joins them. Garrus’ father offers to have them stay with him, out in his in-law’s home where the destruction is not as complete. As they fly over the charred forest, Aelianus tells Garrus that the journey into the office reminds him of what he’s fighting for- and when the weather is nicer riding into Cipritine will be a joy. He then offers to have Garrus and Shepard take the hoverbike (a Renata) out for a spin when they get there.

### Title Meaning

"Non ministrari, sed ministrare" can be translated as "not to be served but to serve", which certainly seems to reflect Aelianus' attitude toward being Primarch of Palaven. It is also yet another Biblical reference, this time to Matthew 20:28—or to Mark 10:45, but the Vulgate Latin matches the Matthew quotation most closely.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Joker pulling a Mark Watney post-London. That's it, that's the tweet.
Chapter 36: Hurry Up and Wait

### Summary

Shepard paces the quiet, dark halls of the *Normandy* in the early morning hours with a colicky Viatrix, thinking about the Citadel booting up, the deteriorating state of Earth, and her own insomnia. She ruminates on what she *can’t* remember with unease.

### Title Meaning

This chapter title takes it's name from the mantra Shepard repeats to herself, as well as her emotional and mental state.
Chapter 160: They Don’t Send Spectres on Shakedown Runs

After a brief discussion by the Council, Garrus is assigned a senior Spectre (Risa T’Kerix) and given a mission to investigate rumors of a rogue asari raising an army of vorcha. Garrus and T’Kerix take the *Astraqis* to the Shrike Abyssal. While traveling and searching the two of them talk shop, the appropriate use of Spectre resources, Garrus’ terribly wide swath of experience for a non-Spectre, Shepard’s obsessive resource searching, and his esoteric music collection. After discovering a large heat signature on the inhospitable planet of Sarait, the two land in the soupy atmosphere to investigate. In an underground shelter they discover signs of biotic vorcha training and a number of asari being kept prisoner.

### Title Meaning

This is a callback to an earlier statement said in the opening prologue of Mass Effect- if a Spectre shows up, something big is going down.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Canadian car alarms (HONK), fanart!!, and istie reminding herself not to get embroiled in wiki projects because, well, she has stories to write.
Chapter 101.5: The Tiebreaker Round

After admirably acquitting themselves in their Captain vs Captain match, Garrus and Shepard move on to a Tiebreaker round, with the important caveat that they not wake the sleeping baby.

### Title Meaning

"After nine rounds, the judge called it a draw. There were a lot of unhappy betters in the training room. We, ah, ended up holding a tiebreaker in her quarters. I had reach, but she had flexibility. More than one way to work off stress, I guess."
Kirrahe

*“So be ready, my friends and comrades: be ready tonight, and in every day coming, to hold the line.”*

## Kirrahe

### Affiliation

Salarian Special Tasks Group
Spectres
League of O.N.E.

### Occupation

SpectreProvisional Head of the League of O.N.E.

## Appearances

### Portrayed by

George Sziagyi (Vocie Actor, Mass Effect)

### Appears in

Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
Every One That Asketh

### Debut

Mass Effect

Kirrahe is a talented salarian with membership in both the STG and the Spectres. His talent for espionage is exceptional. According to Mordin Solus while Kirrahe did have a tendency toward military bravado and was "a bit of a cloaca", he never the less loved his speeches.

## Mass Effect

### Mass Effect

Then-Captian Kirrahe was sent along with the 3rd Infiltration Regiment to the planet Virmire, where he discovered Saren Arterius' base of operations. When they realized the gravity of their situation, he authorized the sending of a message on their mission-critical frequency back to the Citadel Council, calling for a fleet worth of reinforcements. Unfortunately, the message was unclear and as a result the Council sent Commander Shepard and the *Normandy* to investigate.

Kirrahe was then forced to improvise after the *Normandy* landed in the middle of the hot-zone. The salarians turned their ship's drive-core into an improvised nuclear bomb and placing it in the middle of the base. To get it there, Shepard took a covert team into the base to disable the dangerous AA guns while Kirrahe and his salarians provided a distraction. While Ashley Williams did not escape the blast, Kirrahe and his men made it with "acceptable casualties". On board the Normandy, Kirrahe and his men promised to honor Ashley's sacrifice and remember to come to Shepard's aid if she ever needed it.

### Pre-Mass Effect 3

Kirrahe was one of the salarians dispatched to Tuchanka, and was the one who found the fertile krogan females who survived Maelon's barbaric experiments.

### Mass Effect 3

Kirrahe, now a Major, met Commander Shepard again when she came to Sur'Kesh to secure the krogan females and fought to repel the Cerberus assault there. Afterwards, Kirrahe recommitted to assist Shepard, and Earth as a result, regardless of what his government chose. True to his word, the STG flies in the Battle of London at the end of the Reaper War.
Chapter 77: Darling, I Have to Go

Garrus needs a ship he can pilot alone and a watertight reason to disappear for four days- and Liara is way ahead of him. After landing in the middle of the night, he makes a point of wandering the alleys and acquainting himself with the area, though Garrus struggles with sticking out like a sore thumb due to the small population. While waiting, Garrus uses psychological profiling and turian genealogy to logic his way into the Marquis’ real name.
Chapter 41: I Expected You Sooner

### Summary

Shepard dreams of a conversation with the Illusive Man who tells her that he’s sure she has questions, and then when she doesn’t say anything wonders if she perhaps hadn’t noticed... though what precisely she hasn't noticed, he doesn't say, because he's a bastard like that. He wishes her goodnight and Shepard wakes from the dream. In the morning, Liara and Shepard review a data package from Miranda regarding Minos. Miranda expresses her worry regarding the civil unrest on Earth, fueled by Minos. Shepard thinks she recognizes one of the operatives in the second clip and asks that Liara send it to Hannah Shepard.
QFV Alarei

The QFV *Alarei* is a lab ship operating within the quarian Migrant Fleet. It has been the home ship for at least two members of the Admiralty Board- Rael'Zorah, and later his daughter Tali'Zorah.

## **Admiral Rael'Zorah and Disaster**

In 2185, Rael'Zorah asked his daughter to send him geth components. Tali was extremely careful to send parts that could not spontaneously activate on their own. Unknown to Tali, Rael and his team were assembling full geth from the parts she sent in an attempt to find a way to hack their neural network. These actions violated deeply held laws that pre-dated their flight from Rannoch. Unfortunately, the geth network reactivated faster than they anticipated, and the whole crew of the *Alarei* was killed.

The quarians attempted to retake the *Alarei* and lost a number of marines as a result. Tali was summoned back to the Migrant Fleet to stand trial for treason, and Commander Shepard (acting as her captain for the purposes of quarian law) offered to try to retake the *Alarei* to look for proof of Tali's innocence. They were successful in clearing the *Alarei* of geth, though they found evidence of what Rael had done. Tali begged Shepard to not use the evidence and ruin her father's name. Shepard used her charisma to prevent Tali from being exiled without using the evidence, and the Migrant Fleet set about cleaning up the Alarei and returning her to duty- they did not have the resources to not use a ship simply because it was a site of death and full of bullet holes. They did end up decommissioning it in 2186, but that was not the end.

## Admiral Tali'Zora's Commission

On November 20, 2187 Tali'Zorah accepted a permanent position on the Admiralty Board and was commissioned to be captain of the *Alarei,* which was recommissioned the following day. Her first order of business was to put together a crew for her ship. Much to her delight (and despite rumors to the contrary) Kal'Reegar had survived the Reaper War, and was not only willing to join her crew but also ready to make recommendations.

After the crew was selected, their first order of business was to assist EDI in recoding her programming so she could escort Joker to the award ceremony on December 7th.

Their next mission was to investigate the data Tali's team on Haestrom died to obtain- and find out why the system's star was dying. Shepard eventually suggested that she speak to Conrad Verner, who did his doctorial dissertation on dark energy.

### Current Crew

* Admiral Tali'Zorah vas Alarei nar Rayya (Captain)
* Dr. Elan'Shiya (Medical)
* Kal'Reegar (First Officer, Security/Tactical)
* Keen'Abadi (Chief Engineer)
* Lia’Vael (Operations)
* Riko’Forzan (Conn Officer)
* Shio’Leth (Communications)
* Veetor’Nara (Science Officer)
* Dr. Conrad Verner (Visiting Fellow)
Damien Arterius

*"And I hope this isn’t too presumptuous of me, but— congratulations to you both on your upcoming bonding, and on your daughter."*

## Damien Arterius

### Relatives

Saren Arterius (father) †
Desolas Arterius (uncle) †
Casimir Arterius
(grandfather) †
Annet Arterius (bondmate)

## Appearances

### Debut

Chapter 110: In Absentia (Mentioned)
Chapter 111: Keelah Si’yah, Keelah Se’lai (Appears)

### Appearance

Damien closely resembles his late father, with his distinctive facial and body structure, pale blue-grey plates, and white markings. However, his voice is less gravelly and lighter than his sire's.

### Early Life

Damien was born to his mother out of bonding. His father, Saren Arterius, was in the midst of his metoric assent to being the youngest turian spectre around the time Damien's existence was revealed. To prevent political fallout, Saren's father and head of the clan Casimir Arterius refused to force Saren to recognize his son. Instead, Casimir quietly registered Damien in the official clan bloodline, but did nothing to present him or acknowledge his existence. It is presumed that Damien's mother received significant "hush" money from the Arterius clan to prevent the societal embarrassment and backlash her outspokenness would have caused.

Damien, like his father, was an extremely talented turian, showing aptitude for public service at an early age. Shortly after he completed his mandatory years in the military, he went into public service in Athanasia.

### Pre-War Politics

Starting around 2182, Aelianus Vakarian took the young Damien (operating under his mother's clan name) under his wing. Aelianus had long found the Arterius clan's handling of Damien distasteful, and wished to nurture the potential he saw in the young man. With Aelianus' son Garrus being utterly uninterested in politics, Damian was also someone who would be able to use his wisdom and experience.

Just a year later, the Hierarchy genealogical registry had to officially recognize Damien as the successor to his father's line with the death of Saren. With this change, he began operating under the Arterius clan name.

By 2186 Damien was promoted to become the Athanasian senator, shortly before the start of the Reaper War.

### Shepard and Vi

In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Aelianus, Damien was named interim Primarch of Palaven while the older Vakarian recovered from his massive injuries. Captain Shepard and Garrus Vakarian, along with their daughter Viatrix had traveled to Palaven when news of the "accident" reached them. When Damien came across Shepard, he made a point to introduce himself- though he seemed to instantly grasp that his close resemblement to Saren was distressing to her. Shepard, not willing to cower before unfair feelings due to association, made a point of introducing him to Vi, much to Damian's delight.

Damien and his bondmate Annet sent Viatrix a stuffed hannar for her first birthday, having become another set of beloved Aunts and Uncles to the young turian.
Chapter 91: Ghosts and Glass

Shepard struggles with distinguishing reality from memory and Garrus from the Marquis. Dr. Chakwas notes that her medication is currently not working how they were previously, and agrees with the assessment that something in Shepard must have changed. Shepard hates herself for startling and flinching at Garrus. Garrus reminds her that he loves her, she can share as much or as little as she wants with him, and that part of Shepard that helped her survive is a part of her, and so he will love her too.
Chapter 32: A Sit-Rep for Shepard

### Summary

The remaining crew of the *Normandy* welcome Commander Shepard home and briefly bring her up to speed. Shepard comes up with a plan and the crew tells Shepard that they missed her.

### Title Meaning

Shepard has been out of commission since approximately December 6th. Now she is back on her beloved ship, surrounded by her crew and at last it is time for her to be caught up on what has happened.
Chapter 45: Code Alpha Chi Zero

Solana, Garrus, and Aelianus discuss how much time Evadne has left. The discussion on her degeneration triggers an extreme flashback for Shepard to her death on the SR-1. As she comes out of it, she realizes that someone has taken Viatrix and she starts to fight, thinking her daughter is in danger. When she fully comes back, Solana explains that she froze and they took Viatrix because she wasn’t responding and she started to topple over, which led to her lashing out. The idea of her hurting Garrus, frightening Viatrix, and not being able to be trusted with her daughter causes Shepard to shut down and then have a mental breakdown. Garrus administers medication to her and relieves Shepard of command.
Chapter 42: Our Forebears Could Scarcely Dream

Hannah Shepard confirms that she thinks the person in the video feed is Robert Minkowski, Shepard’s father. Hannah then divulges that Robert went undercover to infiltrate Cerberus and fell off the radar sometime during the Reaper War. Garrus finds out from his father that his mother is alive, but is in the final stages of Corpalis Syndrome on Rannadril and is not likely to last much longer. Shepard makes a note to try to get a mod working to understand subvocals, and tells him that they will make the arrangements to get the *Normandy* there.
Chapter 4: Fallen Giant

Warning! **Here there be spoilers**

### Summary

Private First Class Douglas Einarson, mourning the loss of a close friend in the war, discovers a fallen Reaper corpse and a mysterious signal. Admiral Anderson meets up with Private Einarson’s superior officer, First Lieutenant Karissa Skyler and plan to extract whatever is making the signal.

### Title Meaning

"Fallen Giant" refers to the Reaper corpse located in the British city of Birmingham, approximately 160km northwest of London.
Chapter 159: I Promise Not to Kill You, But I Can’t Promise More

Shepard can’t wait to share the news with Garrus, but she wants to tell him in person and he’s in meetings.

Shepard calls her mom to tell her that Hackett wants to commission a new exploratory fleet with her and the *Normandy* at the head of it. Hannah is ecstatic, but asks if she had spoken to Hackett about the challenges she was having with her work-life balance. Shepard admits that while she is very excited at the idea, she doesn't know if she can handle running a fleet. Hannah points out that if she was honest with Hackett, then Hackett has a fair idea of what she can handle- and while it is hard, she should trust herself. Then Hannah suggests that Shepard speak to Anderson for a second opinion before they move on to the joys of baby-proofing for a mobile one-year-old.

Shepard goes to the Anderson-Sanders domicile and asks to pick Anderson's brain about what he was doing  in the lead up to the war while he offers her coffee. When Shepard tells him that Hackett wants her to lead an exploration fleet, he tells her in no uncertain terms that she is an excellent pick. He correctly points out how much exploration she had done during her hunt for Saren, her excellent record keeping, and her natural desire for new discoveries make her a natural pick. Shepard is forced to agree and allows herself to be excited.

When Garrus comes home for lunch, Shepard presents him with sandwiches and the news. Garrus is happy, but asks her if this is something she wants, rather than just something she thinks she has to do. Shepard confirms that she’d rather be on the *Normandy* exploring than being a politician and promises not to work too much on it before their wedding in a month.

Garrus, Shepard, and Viatrix attend the wedding of Ka’hairal Balak to Khonine Me'zriya, as the batarian people take another step down the difficult road to reclaiming their culture. Despite the stares and hostility of the guests, the bride welcomes them and the groom includes his god-child in the ceremony, much to Vi’s delight.

### Title Meaning

Both couples in the chapter - Garrus and Shepard, and Ka’hairal and Khonine have . . . complicated relationships. They’re vowing themselves to each other, but some days? Some days that vow is essentially “I promise not to kill you, but I can’t promise more”. When you’re dealing with trauma upon trauma, history and mental illness, broken trust and deep-seated unconscious beliefs that the future isn’t real… some days that’s all you’ve got to hang on to to get you through to the next day. But you hang on to it. Because you *do* love them, and you know it. And if all you can do that day is choose to continue loving them, choose to make it to the next morning no matter what . . . Well, that means a lot more than romance.

So, much in the vein of Ka’hairal’s conversation with Khonine when she proposed: I promise not to kill you, but I can’t promise more

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Ragnar the campaign-breaking barbarian, the encouraging nature of eldritch horrors, and being 70% mac and cheese.
Chapter 144: He's Got Her

### Summary

Hannah is keeping vigil at her daughter’s bedside, switching with Kolyat, watching Viatrix, and consulting with Dr. Chakwas in Garrus’ absence. Shepard wakes momentarily as Hannah rushes to her side. Shepard doesn’t seem to know her mother is there, only repeating “He’s got her”.

Solana awakes in captivity and makes contact with Khonine- who is already in rough shape. The two women exchange intel briefly before the Marquis returns. Solana takes pleasure in the damage she has done to his eye. The Marquis brags that he has already made contact with Aelianus, and he is certain that the Primarch will comply with his demands. He has plans in the meantime.

Aelianus makes contact with Garrus and the *Athemis*. The Marquis has a short list of demands- complete immunity, and Councilor Shepard to go to a location of his choosing- alone and unarmed. Garrus and Aelianus both know that although Shepard would go in a heartbeat- she’s dying. Garrus protests- trying to come up with a plan, but Aelianus tells him that someone is already working on a lead.

Aria T’Loak goes into the pits of Omega to join a high-stakes game for the ultimate prize- information. The wager- herself. After Aria wins, Firkin is reluctant to flip on one of his oldest clients. But on Omega the rule holds true: Don’t Fuck With Aria.

Calix is on Bekenstein.

### Title Meaning

"He's Got Her" almost certainly refers to the Marquis' capture of Solana- and Shepard's apparent knowledge/visions of this fact.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

THE COOLEST FANS EVER, istie gets to have a coaching session with Jennifer Hale ahhhhhhhhh, and Garrus pulling a Riker on any chair in the room.