The Terra Firma leader was propped up in his seat within the small ship as it was escorted to the government building of Geneva by five Strikers. An image appeared on the small screen before him, of a man standing at attention.

"Mr.Toma, welcome to Seven Points and welcome back to Earth. I'm Commander Whitehead, and besides giving you a formal greeting I'm here to inform you that most sectors of Earth are secure, and it will only be a matter of time before we have full control over our planet. We have General Roger Archer to give credit for multiple decisive victories." Commander Whitehead added before waiting for a reply.

Mr.Toma raised his chin slightly, thinking the news over. "I want an audience with the General. Escort me to Seven Points' head office, where I'll continue my work as leader. The people need one voice to follow, as they've grown tired of listening to the mindless chatter of three senile creatures already. They need one strong leader, one dictator to show them progress and growth." Cassius said, the subject matter making all of the politicians in the ship look at him.

"He needs surgery as soon as possible." Jess interrupted. "He's lost the use of his legs, and I think a bullet is lodged in his spine. He needs to be able to walk again."

Whitehead spoke off camera with someone, then nodded. "We will be awaiting your landing, Mr.Toma."

Roger Archer had recently just let the Terra Firma stronghold from which he was issuing his orders. He had a sizable force still there in order to hold it. Roger was waiting in the Docking bay for Cassius's arrival. Roger had not wanted to go to war with his own people, but he had loyalty to his party. This was the only way to ensure safe and able reform of the Human government at least in his mind.

As the ship landed, a pair of medics gripped Cassius' arms and pulled him into a wheelchair. They attempted to push him from behind, but with a hand he dismissed them. He saw Roger Archer and immediately knew who he was.

"General Archer, I presume. You've helped bring order and honour to our people, and I'm grateful. I want you by my side when we transform the galaxy, as I trust in good men and women to do their parts." Toma said as he began to wheel himself across the bay. Many people walked behind him, and many were at the exit, wishing to speak with him, but for the moment he wished to know about this General.

"The citadel is in an uproar because we stood against creatures that think themselves our masters. They paid for such beliefs, as we did. But we're free now, at least, we've cut ourselves loose of our bonds. Earth isn't the only planet that is uniting for humanity, but there are many against us. I plan for us to build on what we have, and focus internally rather than externally like the Systems Alliance did with the galactic issues. We will be a militant government. Our economy will be supplied by the building of ships, ammunition, weapons and bombs, training of soldiers, feeding the people, focusing on a population boom...I want it all. The Systems Alliance will fast become an afterthought as the geth and even the reapers threaten our lives. But we'll be ready, regardless if the aliens are or not."

"That's all fine and dandy, sir, but let me just make one suggestion, that we see to it to wipe the geth from the face of the galaxy. Pertaining to the economy, just how do you plan on making up for the lost funds from trade?" Roger asked, he planned to know how this new leader was going to run things.

Lisa helios had been doing some odd jobs to make the money to track her brother. "Excuse me general, but I have the papers on the estimated economy difficulties for you." She had a large stack of about 30 papers in hand. It was only the basics "The detailed version is on your desk.".

"We were being dealt a bad hand with those trades anyways. Do you really think the council's standards were fair for us? They were set up to give the Turians, the Salarians and the Asari the real benefits. We don't require them, as we were a once were self sustaining peoples. If trade is needed, we can do so as we did in the past. You can believe trade with the Batarians is still prevalent, though they are not a part of the citadel alliances. Think of the breakthroughs we've made...Medigel is our creation. It's all over now, and they have us to thank for it. Apparently it's against their rules yet they accept it as valuable...that's how the galaxy works, Archer. Prove yourself as valuable, and they will allow themselves to bend rules for profit." He explained, shrugging the matter aside as he reached the exit of the hangar.

He wheeled himself into the elevator, the destination seven stories above them, into the main conference room.

After handing over the papers, Lisa sighed sayin "I wish I knew where Luke was." and began to walk to the second elevator. Aside from age, hair, and the fact that she was a girl, they were almost identical. She bowed slightly to the general and Cassius before getting in.

Roger Held the paper up so he could see it. Even he knew that those aliens could make some good weapons. He went to his office and decided he better get some organization there, as he believed that his position as general should allow him to lead on the battlefield.

"Hell, if the Batarians can do it, why not us? Are we a weaker species?" Cassius asked aloud, as he tapped a button and sent the elevator jerking upwards.

"In the conference room I will call for a cease fire. As confused and manipulated as the Systems Alliance is...they're still our blood. Perhaps one day they will follow our lead, but for now we must think about what is best for us, not place ourselves far aside for what's best for others. I want to crackdown on the crime on earth. It has become ridiculous...I want beautiful structures to be built, that bring pride and wonderment on our people." He said, staring outside the glass elevator walls at the city below.

Lisa entered a weapons testing room only to find shots going in every direction. She got behind a wall and cursed until the firing stopped. She walked in wondering "What the HELL have you people been making in here?".

One of the weapons engineers replied "We're trying to get the firing control of a new turret design working. The only problem is the FOF tags.".

Lisa shook her head "I'm here to pick up some gun and the pepers for it and take them to the general.".

They handed her the gun in a suit case and the papers in a folder. She quickly left the room not wanting to be shot at. The level the general supposedly went to was still a few levels higher, about the tenth floor if she remembered correctly. Once she arrived at the general's office and set down the suit case and folder, she asked "Sir, might I inqiure as to who your visitors were?".

Cassius was wheeled to the center podium. "Carry a message to all humans loyal to our cause on the citadel and neighboring colonies, to earth, to all planets and colonies you can....record what I say now. Deliver it once I finish." Toma said, clearing his throat and and folding his hands in front of him.

"My people, now more than ever we must rely on the brave. Stop your fighting on the citadel. Our message was carried, and now we must go back home to regroup. I ask you to come to Earth's surrounding colonies and help spread forth the revolution. Explain reason to your friends and family, and tell them what you fight for. It is not hate for other species that has brought us to this point...No! It is by love that you and I have for our own. A human government for humans...for those that oppose this, I ask, did you not bear witness to the proof Elysium and New Eden presented you? We have become weak, not able to defend our colonies. Why? We're too busy defending the council...we've come to rely on others for protection, and we leave it into their hands whether we live or we die." Mr.Toma said, looking around the room for a moment.

"For those that would rather be with the Systems Alliance...that would rather stay in a pact with beings that care little for humanity, then I tell you I am giving you a chance to leave unchallenged. I warn you that the council will fail you again and again, and we will welcome you with open arms when you open your eyes. Don't forget what they did to the Krogan...do you believe they would think twice about us? I ask again that you lower your weapons and join us as a free, independent species. We can restore our power, bring justice back to the galaxy, feed and cloth our poor, if only you would work with me instead of against me. I sit here on Earth, looking upon the streets filled with crime and blandness...and I think, truly, we have forgotten our own. We let our own beauties crumble as our minds are far away with concerns that don't concern us, neglecting the things we once proudly said 'this is ours' and stood with backs straightened. But I haven't forgotten my roots. My people. I ask the Alliance to remember. Who are you fighting?..." he ended, motioning for the video to cut off.

"Send that on as many frequencies as possible. Let them look into their souls." Toma said, wheeling himself over to a window that overlooks the city.

{{ Continued from Evacuation }}

The small transport ship approached the city, coming in low over the landscape. The Marines on board prepped their equipment, fixed their uniforms, and looked around the dark interior of the cabin. The pilot started to hit a few switches, slowing the speed as the Marine Vessel passed over the outskirts of Geneva.

The ship was only a minute or two away from the Seven Points building, the capital of the rebellion and once the Alliance. Crystal grabbed a radio from the co-pilots seat. Switching the channel to one of the TF channels.

"This is Marine Zero, permission to dock at Seven Points" she said into the radio, hoping that someone would respond.

The Zero meant that the vessel was not a weapon or used for combat. Hopefully they would let them land due to the peaceful nature of their mission. Crystal pulled the disc from her uniforms front pocket, checking to make sure it was still fine. The whole team was in Classic Marine Dress, the higher ups wanted them to represent the Marines.

The ship circled the building, waiting for the go to dock, or the possibility of being fired upon.

After a pause there came a response.

"Seven Points to Marine Zero, permission granted. You're asked to leave your weapons in your ship while docked. Over."


Cassius began to wince as he felt the pain in his spine throb.
"Are you sure they can be trusted?" a man asked him from his left.

Toma simply shrugged. "They've either crossed over or have something to say. Let them in." he said casually, looking over sheets of paper concerning resources.

"Seven Points to Marine Zero, permission granted. You're asked to leave your weapons in your ship while docked. Over."

The pilot nodded as he heard the command, he started to move the ship into position to dock. The ship flew into the dock, the pilot maneuvering it perfectly. Crystal grabbed her rifle, strapping a sling onto it.

“Ma’am, the said to leave our weapons” one of the team members said to her.

“I don’t give a damn what those fuckers say” she responded, clipping the magazine into her M43.

The rest of the team followed, disregarding the order to leave their weapons. They did however put it on a sling, their weapons slung behind their shoulders. They opened the door, walking out in a line. The few guards raised their weapons as the Marines exited with weapons, but the team just continued into the building leaving the guards confused. One of them radioed to Toma that they had weapons, but are not using them.

Crystal walked up to the door to the chamber, the rest of the Marines following. She turned to them “Listen up, we do not fire unless fired upon, if any of you break this order I will shoot you without a second thought” she said in a stern voice.

They entered the room, the men around Cassius seemed jumpy when they had weapons with them. She walked up to Mr. Toma, handing him the disc.

“From the Marines with love” she said simply to him.

Cassius lifted the disk in his hand, viewing it at different angles.

"And what exactly is this?" he asked, frowning at the fact they disregarded his order to come unarmed. But he'd let it slide, as they peaked his interest with such a bold meeting.

The men and women around the room kept their sights on the marines, but knew better than to shoot unless told to do so.

"And what exactly is this?"

“I think its is a response to your message that jammed our airwaves earlier” she said emotionlessly to the man.

The disc contained the message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

The rest of the Marines looked around the room, wondering how a rebel organization could push into on of the most important building on Earth and push hundreds of millions of their own species from the planet. They watched the men around the room carefully, makings sure they were not in danger from snipers or gunmen.

Cassius handed the disk over to a nearby soldier. "Play it." he said simply, his eyes locked on the woman soldier.

With no further instructions, the soldier placed the disk in a computer terminal, the sound emitting from the speakers around the conference room, and the image being displayed on a screen at the far corner of the room.

The disc started to play, the black screen changed to show the Marine Commandant, the leader of the Marine Corps.

"As we leave the planet today, we do not weep for what we left behind. We leave with hope, we leave with dignity, we leave with victory. Your armies may have won the battle through the use of terrorist like actions, riots, and backhanded tactics, you fail to see what you have really done. You say that you want to help humanity, make it stronger, and leave behind the intergalactic field, but you will inevitably hurt us.

You should enjoy your time on the planet, make use of it. We will return, and we will win. You have started a war that you cannot win, we will not allow it. You have spilled blood of humans and aliens on the Citadel, and for what, more? Now Mr. Toma, i hope that you will regret what you have started, as there is no undoing it now.

Good day Mr. Toma"

the video went black then faded to the Marine Corps. Seal. The Marines' Hymn then played.

"From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli,
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Our flag's unfurl'd to every breeze
From the dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And have never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines."

Crystal watched the video, smiling as she listened to it. As it ended she turned to Cassius. Her expression changed, her stare would have unnerved the most battle hardened soldier.

"The next time we meet, i will make you pay for this" she said to him.

She then turned to the Marines, telling them to leave and go back to the ship. They listened and the 8 soldiers walked out of the room.

Cassius clasped his hands together over the desk. The room fell silent as the marines left, and Toma knew that woman soldier meant every word she said. "The next time we meet, i will make you pay for this" she had said to him, her eyes chilling. He laughed suddenly, to the shock of his soldiers, and slammed his fist on the desk.

"Such resolve. What I'd do for a soldier such as that. These are men and women you can be honoured to fight and die by. Somewhere deep inside they still have their humanity, be it in fury or duty, but both are ill placed. We'll show them where to place it." Cassius said, an ironic smile spreading across his face.

The Marines made their way back to their ship, the pilot nervously waiting for them to return. The Terra Firma guards watched them closely as they made their way through the hallways. They loaded in, shutting the door. The pilot went back to his seat, turning on the engines and undocking. He pushed the boosters and headed back to Dallas.

{{ Continued in Dallas }}

"They're leaving?" One of his secretaries asked, surprised.

"Yes," Cassius said, "They will not make Earth a battlefield. What that means is...daggers in the night. I'll have to become a light sleeper it seems." the leader said, sighing as he wheeled towards the elevator.

"Begin deporting the cleared aliens. If they do not have the proper ID we ask for, apprehend them and place them in imprisonment." he said, suddenly very tired.

"You are my best advisers. I trust you all to do what is best for Earth." Cassius said, nodding to them as the elevator door shut.

Cassius stared out the glass elevator. His heart was heavier now. Everything had gone as best he could hope, but what had he gotten for his efforts? The marines hated him. Him. The man that would bring equality back to their race. He couldn't understand what he had done wrong.

From the elevator ceiling he heard a small thud. Looking up, Cassius was thrown out of his wheelchair by the force of an explosion from above. As he struggled to move his body, a hand gripped his neck and he felt a stinging pain in his shoulder by a syringe before everything went black.

Cazador lifted the limp man over his shoulder, using the wheelchair as a ladder back up through the explosive made hole.

Word of Cassius' disappearance traveled an hour later

(Continued in Cult base)

Cassius had disappeared, and the next highest ranking person at Seven Points was General Archer. "I am going to take a group to find Cassius, the rest of you shall be left here. All members of my crew, report to my ship. Everyone else, I want this base on lockdown status." Roger Archer took his men and his ship to go find Cassius.

Lisa watched as the base went on lock down. She unsheathed her katana and watched as everyone panicked around her. She ran to the nearest window and looked outside. She was going to be here for a while.

After several hours of wandering, She found a rather large crack in one of the walls, just large enough for her to slip through. Once out, she took her money and went to one of the nearest docks.

((Continued in Human Docks))

((Continued from Mars))

The ship touched down at the Seven Points' docking bay, where multiple men and women stood in two columns to welcome the arrival of Cassius Toma.

He walked out of the ship, to everyones amazement and waved slightly. He smiled at their reaction, bowing his head slightly and spreading his hands outwards.

"Mr.Toma! What happened? There was what sounded like an explosion and then you left. There was a hole on the elevator...we thought you were dead." Jess explained, staring at him in disbelief.

"Explosion?...I don't know anything about that. However, I left to find a man of science," Cassius said, placing a hand on the fake Butcher's shoulder, "and I found him. I didn't have to endure painful operations, or any discomfort at all to regain use of my legs. He has truly perfected the method of medicine. I come home with good news as well! I bring with me a drug of the future. A drug that will make all of our sacrifices have worth, for I bring a a substance that not only increases muscle mass, but increases brain activity and reflex of the human core. In our history we have seen empires...Greece...Rome...their soldiers, few in quantity, defeat masses of men that doubled their numbers, through skill and power. Soldiers of Earth, if you wish to test yourself beyond the limits once known by all mankind, then report to your barracks and ask for it. Ask and you will be given." Cassius ended, looking at each camera individually before turning towards the conference room and motioning the General and the Butcher to follow.

"Ask and you will be given."

"Quite a speaker" thought The Butcher as he, the fake, and the general walked down the hallways to the conference room. Soon they will have an army of the elite, and the strong. Soon they will be able to force the citadel to see just how foolish they were to ban his brand of wild medicine.

As they entered the room, they all took a seat looking at each other. The lack of trust in General Archer's eyes could be easily seen as he looked at the fake butcher, but he would not suspect the truth, so Mike took no head of it.

"How many do you think will accept the treatment, Mr. Toma?" The fake asked, his snakelike eyes seeming excited. "I would like to get started as soon as possible."

"And finished" thought the real Butcher, his feeling of dread coming in more and more powerful waves.

Cassius pressed his hand against his mouth in thought.
"I would say...1/10 of them to begin with. When the others see how effective it is I'm sure we'll see a significant increase. This is an opportunity, gentlemen. An opportunity for humanity to evolve into what it was born to be. We've been given the tools...knowledge, determination, ambition...all that is left for us to do is use these tools." Toma said, sitting down in a chair.

"This drug could make every puny human, every poor human not blessed with a high IQ, every human with nothing but average traits... this drug could make each one of these people a contributer to our cause. They will be warriors, remembered for their devotion to the human spirit...for their devotion to human progress."

"That many should be fine to start with. General Archer, if you would be so kind as to assemble all the men and women willing to participate in this procedure in a medical office, I shall begin as soon as today." The fake sneered as he left with General Archer.

As soon as they were alone Mike looked to Toma and sighed as a he took a seat opposite of him. "How many sleeper agents do you have in the citadel? Further more, how quickly would we be able to activate the relay in the event we needed to get there?" He asked, trying to get a feel of their tactical position.

Cassius looked back into the old memories that didn't quite belong to him.

"I have 20 that actively report to me. I'm not certain of the time it would take...but they would find a way. They would all give their lives." the clone said, his mind shifting through memories of trust, friendship, love. His mind then shifted to being captured, then born again. Shifting to new reasoning, so different from the old. He felt like his mind was clawing through his skull, trying to escape from this skeleton of existence. The Butcher gave him reasoning, but he had none to call his own.

The Butcher looked to him and saw the moment of confusion, wondering if he had made a mistake in his creation. "I see, strength wise, how capable are you of attacking the citadel at the moment? I would like the number of ships and soldiers that you have." He continued, wondering how long the fake Toma would last.

"How odd" A voice in his head laughed, "I thought you did not care if you had to kill a million people, yet you show concern for Cassius Toma? Ha ha, you are an idiot" It managed to laugh before he mentally silenced it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the Medical office, the fake butcher was hard at work on the men and women who had come to him. Toma was right in his thinking that about a tenth of them would do it without hesitation, and that pleased him greatly. He looked at the assistants that he had recruited from the medical staff and smiled. Yes, soon The Butcher would have a force to fear, if that is what pleases his "father" it pleased him all the more. He injected another soldier and handed them a pill. "Take that when you start to feel like your muscles are stretching, it will regulate your bodies chemicals to accept your new power." He explained again, waiting for the next one in line to step forward.

The glaze of his eyes vanished as he leaned back in his chair and chuckled slightly. "Well...All Terra Firma forces combined from Earth and the inner colonies...50 000 trained soldiers. Ships...well, I haven't been keeping tabs, but a rough estimate...50 dreadnoughts, 100 cruisers, 400 frigates and, say, 50 carriers?" Casius replied, shrugging.

"Hm" Was all The Butcher replied for a moment, thinking. "That is good, soon we will be able to have a strong enough force to handle Geth, Humans, Taurians, everything." He nodded his head, still not feeling any better. "Have your men on the Citadel double their reports. I want them to report to you every hour if they can."

Cassius looked at the butcher, curiousity in his voice. "You suspect something." he said, half a question, and half a statement. "I'll have them double their reports then." he said, standing from the chair and walking over to a desk.

"I may suspect some thing but... I do not know. Maybe it is just my mind finally giving way. Then again... mayhap it is just the intuition of an old man, trying to tell him some thing the mind can not understand." He remarked watching Toma.

He pressed a series of buttons on the desk console before turning back to the boy.

"The Terra Firma army will be awaiting your words. They are fully able and ready for whatever endeavor." Cassius said.

"Good, in a few hours the new soldiers will be back operational and we should be ready..." He started but then stopped, trying to understand just what he should be ready for? Perhaps he truly was going mad, but if that be the case let him take a thousand hells with him in his madness. "In case anything happens." He finished with a sigh.


------------------------------------------

The fake butcher had just finished with the last of the soldiers. Soon they would change and evolve into some thing greater then what they are. He closed the door to the medical wing locking the soldiers in there, ensuring that they can grow and change in piece.

"As you say." Toma said, sitting at the desk and sighing. He had a severe headache that seemed to be crippling him. Cassius rubbed his temples slowly, sitting back into his chair.

"It's for the best that we all do as you say." Cassius said aloud, explaining his view. He relived the moment he stared into his own dead eyes and his face twitched slightly. The clone switched his attention back to the butcher, spinning around in his chair to face the boy.
"How far do you plan to go?" he asked, his voice hollow.

"How far do you plan to go?"

"How far?" The Butcher mused aloud. Perhaps it would be best if he reassured him? After all it would not be a total lie. "As far as is needed to go for the betterment of humanity. I plan on going through this transaction as quickly and completely as possible. We will strengthen humanity as a whole and try to bring out a new age of peace." He sighed, his eyes fading over for a moment, thinking of an Eden for humans, but he quickly dismissed it.

"However, you must understand, that in order to gain this peace we must show others the foolishness of holding humanity in contempt, we must strive for equality in all aspects, and for that we must fight." He continued, his pace quickening. "Following the battles we must face, we will make humanity known, and respected! We shall no longer be held as second class citizens, we shall no longer be looked down upon, and we shall hold our heads higher then any others, and fight for all things we deserve!" He finished slamming his palms on the table.

Cassius was about to speak, when he was interrupted by a message.

"The reports..." Cassius muttered, pressing a button on the desk, initiating an audio log.

"Mr.Toma...Geth...I repeat...Geth have attacked the Citadel. There is a large force here, they have ships, they have soldiers, they are getting a foothold on the Citadel." an anonymous voice said.

Before the next message could be played, Toma paused the machine.

"The Geth are invading the citadel...What course of action would we take?" he asked, pressing a hand to his forehead.

The Butcher paused for a moment, indeed what should they do? True if they were to go to the citadel, they may be able to help save the place with their super soldiers, and let;s not forget Rin and Shu. They alone would be able to tear the Geth to scrap metal. But should he?

"I advise we open the relay and attack full force. Give the people a taste of what Terra Firma is able to do. However, it is still your call. My advise is for us to go there and blast our way into the front. Drop our units in and let them handle it. Of course I can have Rin and Shu there quite fast as well as Cazador." He explained, looking at a clock. "What ever we do, we must decide soon. It is not like the Geth will wait for us." He mused, watching the fake butcher walk into the room.