((Might as well get this show on the road. I hope no-one minds.))

The relay was a hive of activity. Spaceships had been assembling for nearly 12 hours nonstop. A cruiser exited the relay and snaked its way through the crowd to the drive discharge stations. A formation of frigates flew above the ominous presence of a System Alliance dreadnought.

Transports were ducking and weaving between ships carrying soldiers and servicemen to their posts. Cargo drones were unloading ordinance into holds and squadrons of fighters ran through a series of final checks in the gaps between carriers.

As each ship completed its preparations, they began to form the largest fleet ever assembled against Earth and Sol. The bitter irony of this historical fact was that it was at the order of a human organisaton.

******

Instructions came in from Arcturus Control over the comms to the ears of Vladimir Zdravic.

"SSV Melbourne. You are assigned to Task Force Alpha, Squadron 2. Follow flight path Foxtrot to rally point Echo."

"Roger that, SSV Melbourne out." spoke the comms officer. "Hear that, captain?"

"Acknowledged, lieutenant. Helm, bring us about."

"Copy that, captain. Making our way to rally point Echo."

Vladimir's XO appeared at his left shoulder.

"Sir, do you wish to speak to the crew?"

Vladimir paused, assembling the skeleton of a speech in his head.

"Yes, I do. Prepare the intercom for me please."

"Right away, captain."

Vladimir picked up the mic and began.

"All hands, this is the captain speaking." Vladimir paused, making sure everyone would be listening.

"You all know why we're here, what our orders are. No doubt you all have worries, even fear, of what would happen should things go foul. Here we are, on the edge of the final frontier, on the edge of the abyss, waiting for the signal that will lead us into conflict between our brothers, our sisters."

"Humanity stands divided, by distance and by belief. By the fact that not all of us could accept the reality of the galaxy. That not all of us could accept that we humans are not the pinnacle of existence. We are divided because there are those who cannot see that we are just the same as those we stand with."

"On Judecca, human and alien fought side by side and back to back against the Geth. We saw the reality, as real as the dead and dying amongst us. Without each other, everybody, every man and women, every human, turian, salarian and asari would have been dead. From that day forward, we knew the truth."

“To cut ourselves from the galaxy is to cut an arm off. To live in a fantasy is to invite destruction. Terra Firma lies to our people while we and our allies bleed ourselves dry protecting their cowardly hides! They lie while we fight to prevent our own demise!”

“We stand on the precipice of annihilation. But humanity has always taken destruction head on and come out fighting!”

“We stood firm on the soil of Judecca. We held the line on New Eden and Elysium until it could be held no more. We have stood firm in the face of judgement by those who know strength, courage and power, and we have not been found wanting!”

"We who stand here today here know that truth. We have seen the universe in all its horror and glory. We have fought demons and defied those who would call themselves gods. We will take back Earth and we will make our people see the reality!”

“Men and women of the System Alliance, it is time to return home to Sol. Man your stations.”

((*does a little happy dance*

Do you mind if I put Rilias and Margot on your ship? I'll put Venette's ship on the fleet soon.))

((Sure. The Melbourne is going to do a lot of space combat so if you want to do some boarding actions, jump into the transports with the marines.))

There was still half an hour to go before the operation started but already the Melbourne was doing its final checks. The comm chattered away as each station reported in.

"Engineering here. Checks complete, everything in the green."
"Spec. Ops. here. Marine and Citadel complements are strapped in and ready for assault."
"Gunnery here. Hellbeams and Hellrails are charged and standing by. Metal Storms launchers are loaded and prepped for launch."
"Sensors here, Argus system is standing by for activation"
"ECM here. Umbra system is standing by."
"Comms here, all systems nominal."
"Navigation here. Final co-ordinates are downloaded and are in the system."

Vladimir spoke to the ship's VI. "Concordiat, is the squadron networked?"
Concordiat replied back. "Task Force Alpha, Squadron 2 is networked to the Alliance BattleNet. All ships are prepped and ready for action."

Vladimir nodded his head. "Now we wait."

Soon Arcturus Control and the Admiralty were broadcasting the final orders.

"Task Force Alpha, move to Nav marker Omega and stand by for relay insertion."

"Acknowledged Arcturus Control. Helm, step to it."
"Aye aye, sir"

The Melbourne glided across, flying in formation with the rest of the task force. They were soon approaching point Omega and the Arcturus relay behind it.

"Task Force Alpha, you are cleared for relay insertion. God speed."

The Task Force leader responded back. "Acknowledged Arcturus Control. All ships, prepare to jump on my mark."

Vladimir nodded to the helmsman to proceed. His hands were still but his knuckles were white.

"3... 2... 1... mark!"

With a burst of energy, the Melbourne and Task Force Alpha accelerated past lightspeed to the Battle for Earth.

((Continued in Sol Relay.))