Chapter One Hundred And Thirty-Seven

The Enduring Triumph. Lera System.

I was content to let Dany take my personal vessel down to Horizon and for her to handle the talks with the leaders of the local human colony. Even once the talks were done we'd have to spend weeks in orbit while the Ad-Mech quickly built an Imperial Fortress or two to defend the vulnerable settlement. This needed to be done in case the Collectors returned once my cruiser was gone, and so they could at least bloody the Reapers a little when they invaded.

Assuming that all went well by the time my ship moved on from this world the humans here would be defended by militia armed with laser weapons as well as laser cannons capable of taking out targets in orbit. Since those cannons would remain under Imperial control there was little danger of them striking an Imperial vessel.

That wouldn't stop the Reapers from wiping out the colony as the void shields which protected an Imperial fortress could be breached, but the Reapers would lose some of their number and that would make the difference when the real war started.

The Ad-Mech wouldn't need more than a few weeks to build the fortresses since they were Standard Template Constructs and so in less than two months we'd be sailing the sea of stars again. Maybe less than a month if the talks went well and the work wasn't delayed. And that was good because the Reapers would be here within the year I felt sure.

No doubt people from other factions would turn up during that time. I knew that Ash Willams had been ordered to stick around because some more Alliance diplomats were on their way. I was fine with her spending time with my people on the planet and while she was spying on us it would give me chances to twist her mind so that she'd end up spying on the Alliance for me by the time I left.

As for the team of talkers who were heading my way, I wondered if they'd discovered that Commander Shepard's team had heavy laser weapons for taking out ground forces and now the Alliance Navy wanted them to. If so they'd be expensive as I needed more ships and raw materials.

All this waiting around had given time for Black Widow to return, I'd not heard from my assassin for a good long while, only I'd not been concerned because I knew that killers such as her could go deep undercover when they played their roles, they would adopt many guises as they moved closer and closer to their target.

Widow had returned in a different FTL capable shuttle than I'd sent her out in, one with Cerberus markings an action that would have resulted in the craft getting blown up if she'd not had the right codes to transmit.

Soon the sexy assassin would be entering my personal quarters which were empty of anyone other than myself as I didn't want anyone else to hear her report.

When Black Widow appeared I saw that she wore a simple black body suit that did a good job of showing off her figure even if it covered a lot of skin. She carried a sword and knelt before me, waiting for me to address her before speaking.

"I hope that Cerberus will soon be dismantled," I said.

Widow stood up.

"I killed the Illusive Man and many of his people before I left his main base, which I left in a mess" she told me "I used the Illusive Man's own files to expose their cells and I sent proof of who's been funding the organisation to a lot of interested parties. Even if the organisation isn't destroyed it will be years before it can threaten anyone, assuming it ever recovers".

Since my plans required Cerberus to no play no role in the Reaper war this was good news. I didn't need Cerberus to be dug out by the roots for that. I had a feeling that bringing a proper end to the organisation would be the work of someone else.

"Did you pick yourself up a trophy?" I asked.

Widow withdrew the sword and handed it to me with the handle free to grasp, so that I could take the weapon.

"Kia Leng one of the Illusive Man's top people proved to be something of a challenge" she let me know "He was the reason that I took longer than expected, but that's no excuse for being away from you for so long".

She didn't need to make amends, and she looked as if she was willing to die for some offence.

"I knew you'd finish your mission successfully and that you might be gone for a while" I said "I'm glad you came back to me in one piece".

Imperials were all too willing to embrace death.

"I hope that I have earned your trust, my lord" said Black Widow.

While I felt sure that she'd gut me if the High Lords of Terra ordered it I did my best to hide my feelings on the matter.

"You did well" I said "I am grateful".

Assassins didn't take trophies so she seemed surprised when I handed her back the sword.

"You can wield it in my defence" I explained.

While I had found plenty of time to train while Thrax II was set up I'd never been a true warrior and she'd earned the weapon.

"I don't have anyone else I want killed so you should get some rest and resume your bodyguard duties when you are ready" I said.

Widow bowed her head and then departed.