Chapter 134

Arriving Within range of the Citadel, the Ascendency 2nd Fleet numbering 5,000 ships which is more than the Council races combined, had surrounded the station in a show of force. Axel was onboard his designated Capital ship, the UNSC Infinity, the largest ship ever created by the Ascendency.

All of the Forerunner ships were not created and were just found. Despite them having the capability of creating Forerunner ships, Axel opted to combine Ascendency created technology with Forerunner technology so that the Ascendency can have its own uniqueness.

Similar to how the Forerunners took the Precursors technology and made it their own, the Ascendency would do the same and combine Forerunner technology with their own to create a combination of advanced technology.

"Open up a communications channel to the Citadel." Axel ordered. Omni started to position a few ships around the Citadel to prevent any ships from fleeing the Citadel with the Council aboard. In front of him, the holographic screen flickered to life, revealing a flustered looking Turian official.

"Ascendency fleet, this is Citadel Control," came a voice that was heard throughout the bridge. "You're in violation of Council space, you must withdraw immediately."

The Citadel Fleet had taken up defensive positions around the Citadel blocking the Ascendency fleet from getting any closer to the Citadel.

"We are here for the Turian Councilor Katius who orchestrated an attack on our research base on Tuchunka." stated Axel as the evidence that they had gathered on Katius was transmitted to the Citadel by Omni. "I suggest you hand him over to us peacefully."

The Turian official was surprised since this was the first time he had heard such accusations against the Turian Councilor who was of his own race, but the evidence which he was looking at was not something that he could just make a decision on. And naturally he did not believe that the evidence was real.

He attempted to deny Axel's claims but was cut off, "Proceedings can be undertaken after he has been taken into custody by us."

"Absolutely not!" the official retorted, his mandibles flaring with indignation. "We can handle our own investigations and trials. You are not permitted to dictate our actions."

Ending the transmission, Axel turned to Omni, "Put me on a direct connection with the Council." He didn't want to waste any time talking to some official who was not even in a position to make decisions.

Moments later, the images of the councilors appeared in front of him. Valese the Asari Council was standing in the middle, with Katius the Turian Councilor on the right and the Salarian Councilor Tivus on the left.

"Councilors," greeted Axel, as if the Citadel wasn't currently under threat by the Ascendency fleet.

"Emperor Axel," Valese responded, her voice managing to retain a calm tone despite the current situation. "Why have you brought this fleet to our doorstep unannounced?"

"Councilor Katius," Axel addressed, not allowing the direct question to be a diversion from the matter at hand. "You will turn yourself over to Ascendency authorities immediately for your planned attack against my Empress."

Katius' eyes widened, his tongue darting out in a nervous tick while the other councilors exchanged surprised glances.

"I haven't the faintest idea of what you're insinuating..." Katius began to protest but Axel cut him off.

"Your denial will do you no good Councilor," Axel asserted. "We have substantial evidence against you." Then turning to the other councilors he added, "Denying this fact will only prompt an invasion of the Citadel by Ascendency military forces. A lot of people will die, but in the end the Councilor will be placed in our custody. Whether or not you decided to come willingly or not, we will not leave until we have completed our goal, and I will not waste too much time."

Valese and Tivus exchanged glances again, this time their expressions more strained. It was clear they were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Katius remained silent, his eyes flitting nervously from the screen to his colleagues. Finally, with a deep breath, he spoke. "Even with your evidence, you cannot simply demand I turn myself over without proper proceedings..."

Axel's patience was dwindling. "Do not take us for fools, Councilor," he snapped. "Your 'proper proceedings' are nothing more than delaying tactics. Your guilt is evident and now, you have one more chance to comply."

Katius was taken aback at the emperor's harsh words, his mandibles twitched nervously as his eyes flicked between his fellow councilors. He had been a politician for a long time but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be caught in such a terrible predicament.

Valese, on the other hand, maintained her collected exterior. She was an Asari, a species known for their longevity and wisdom. In her many centuries of life, she had seen much and was not easily intimidated. However, the situation at hand was escalating far beyond what she had anticipated.

"I understand your concerns, Emperor Axel," she began, her tone firm yet diplomatic, "However, you must understand that we cannot allow foreign interference in our internal matters. It sets a dangerous precedent."

The transmission was cut, and the Ascendency fleet opened fire on the Council fleet. Thus begins the Battle of the Citadel. The councilors watched in horror as their ships were struck by the Ascendency's terrifying weaponry. The skies above Citadel lit up with the ensuing chaos, a grim reminder of the threat that hung over them all.

"Please reconsider!" Valese's calm facade broke, her words desperate, but the transmission was one-way now. Axel did not respond.

———

Onboard the research ship named the 'Endeavor', the crew was hard at work trying to come up with a way to survive. Most of the crew were Military Scientists with a small number of marines onboard plus a small 4-man team of Spartan-IIIs.

As the ship was possibly venturing into an unknown place, naturally it was no normal ship. It had a small amount of Medium and small sized guns to defend itself with a small squad of Marines and 4 Spartan-IIIs to accompany the team alongside a few other things to ensure their safety should a situation like this happen.

Eventually after a few days of drifting through space with nowhere to go and nothing on the Sensors they had detected a celestial body within range of their scanners.

It was on the border of their scanners and the distance would be long, but they had a small Assembler onboard alongside a near infinite amount of energy to power their ship.

The days morphed into an endless cycle of work, rest, and observation as they studied the little data they could gather from the distant celestial body. They would need to find resources to establish a base somewhere and start researching a way to get back to their galaxy.

They only had a small Assembler with them which was enough for them to survive should anything attack them on the ground since it can produce MCU's. But to get back they would need to gather resources to construct a Large Assembler to build a Dimensional gate.

This would require a lot of exploration and if they couldn't find the resources that they needed then it would take even longer before they could return home.