Time passed by uneventfully, the rumble of the Ogre we were within a static backdrop to our journey. An hour ago we’d departed from roads well traveled, passing more slowly as the lead, automated Ogre’s took the path. Those in the front were entirely unmanned, pushing vehicles on the highway out of the way, long dead and abandoned.

There were fewer vehicles than I’d expected, but even with some paths being easily available, we’d rather have the unmanned vehicles leading the way. Some of us were aware of the possibility of landmines and the like, and just as well would avoid that possibility.

Ordinarily, I didn’t mind long silences on drives, they were calming, soothing in a way that I couldn’t quite place the notion of why. This time, though, it came with some trepidation.

Daniel emerged into the drivers cabin, maneuvering himself into the passenger's seat across from me. He exhaled heavily, arching an eyebrow at the wheel that steers itself, still unused to the Ogre’s fairly advanced modifications.

“How are they doing?” bereft of my armor, he could even more easily tell my concern.

“Well enough, I guess,” Daniel shook his head, “I think they’re just digesting everything. It’s probably only really just now hitting home that we’re doing some really big things here.”

I nodded quietly, understanding that they would need time to process things.

“How about you?” I heard his question.

“Fine,” I shrugged, “I’ve made my peace with what the Legion needs to become.”

Daniel shook his head, “I still don’t think we actually have to become this big world order.”

I contemplated that, looking sidelong at my oldest friend before I joined him in shaking my head, “It’s possible that humanity would surprise me, that we’d be able to join together and figure this out. But the risks are too high to leave it to chance.”

“Is that really all there is to it?” Daniel spoke, “can’t we just be this shadowy organization that works in the background and doesn’t have to deal with all the political crap?”

I snorted, grinning widely, “I think that’d have just as many issues as what I want to do.”

“Nah, it’d be great,” he smiled knowingly, “sure, we’d have a helluva time getting where we’d need to go sometimes. And I can’t imagine anyone would be happy with a rogue organization armed to the teeth doing whatever they want in their territory. But it’d be fun.”

Looking at him, I know he was joking, but there was a distinct note of truth in what he said. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t long for the days where things were much simpler, just our group going out and hunting biotics. Every now and then, I wondered if it was a mistake to create the Legion. I don’t know how things would have turned out without us, but I do know that there would have been a great deal more posturing politically without us. Gilramore was better for our presence, smaller groups existing under the canopy of the Legion and Bulwark and allowed to grow, carefully, into organizations that would be a credit to their name.

But, the possibility that everything could have gone wrong if I’d left things in someone else’s hands chased away the doubts I had. Certainly there was someone else out there that could have done things better, but they weren’t me, and they hadn’t done it. The Legion was mine, and I would do everything I could to push to the goal.

It would be arrogant to say that I believed we could single-handedly control the world. That just wasn’t feasible. What I wanted was for every other organization to realize that not working together would bring us down on their heads. I wanted the power to force the issue, to be certain that we as a species would have an honest chance at becoming something better.

“I think that, someday, we’ll look back on these times and laugh at our doubts,” I said solemnly, “for now, we just have to marshall through what comes and try to figure out the best path we can take forward.”

The big man in the chair next to me gazed at me studiously, a flicker of something like understanding lurking within. He smiled broadly, “That’s better.”

I tilted my head questioningly before he explained, “You’ve always overthought things. I figured after seeing the noobs in the back that you’d be picking apart your plans, looking for any way to do things different.” He settled more deeply into his chair, “Don’t doubt yourself, Matt. If there’s anything that I’ve learned in all the time we’ve been friends, it’s that you don’t give yourself enough credit.”

I felt a rare warmth in my chest at those words, a smile touching on my lips.

“Also that you’re still a little nihilistic, so that doesn’t help,” he continued, oblivious to the way my expression dipped ever so slightly.

“Am I really that bad?” I blinked, watching the man turn more to look at me.

He said nothing, maintaining a flat stare.

I huffed, “Fine, probably that’s got something to do with it.”

“At least you’re not a hardcore narc, that’d get old fast.” He chuckled, “Though you’ve definitely gotten a bit more edgy since the start of all this.”

“Pretty sure that’s par for the course,” I gestured to my body overall, a composition of bio-steel, “If I wasn’t a little edgy, I’d say I’d be pretty metal, instead.”

He rolled his eyes at the pun, but grinned broadly, “Anyways, I think they’re fine. They’re talking to each other, and Fran and them are coaxing them out of their shells. Pretty sure they’re still adjusting to the team overall.”

“We are something of celebrities now,” I gave a humorless chuckle, “I’m surprised you guys can even go anywhere without people recognizing you.”

Daniel grinned, “It helps when my eyes don’t glow red.”

I carefully lifted my hand and middle finger in his direction, “Har har.”

We sat in companionable silence then, a small part of my doubt and hesitation settling that I hadn't even realized I had. Quietly I promised myself that I would stop doing this, and start trusting myself more.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been up here,” Daniel murmured, looking around at the shaggy forested area, what I would expect of a wetlands.

“Overtaken by the forest,” I glanced around, “doesn’t look like it’s been biotic infested, though, does it?”

He shook his head, “nah, seems natural. I think.” He shrugged, “I ain’t a botanist.”

I chuckled, searching through my own mind and uplink to check a few things. Ultimately, I found that the lush greenery that surged over the highway embankments was a natural product of neglect. A handful of buildings, homesteads on the edge, were in view too, some more dilapidated than others. I’d guess that the bulk of them were no longer inhabited, judging by the fact that few bore vehicles at all, and their advancing states of neglect.

Here, the trees surged tall, interspersed by broad rolling fields of verdant green grass. It was peaceful, void of any presence that I could see.

Minutes later, I saw a group of six deer moving together through the undergrowth, warily eying the highway with our rumbling convoy lumbering by.

“There’s nothing out here?” Daniel asked aloud, confused by the lack of anything trying to eat us, “is that a good thing?”

I laughed, “What a world we live in; when asking if a lack of something trying to eat us makes us concerned.”

He grinned and shook his head helplessly, our convoy continuing on implacably.

It would be another hour or two before we reached our meeting point with a representative of Basilisks. We’d spoken to some limited extent with their diplomatic branch, a fairly organized affair, and intended on giving them an honest attempt at diplomacy.

Derrick was in one of the relatively more forward mobile command centers, along with a collection of others more responsible and involved in the diplomatic processes. I would likely be required to be around as well, but for the most part I intended on trying to leave this to their expertise. I’d already firmly cemented our approach to cities like Sunvilla, but Basilisk Port was a far cry from the situation that we’d seen there. They were a genuine governing body, even more legitimate than Argedwall had been. From what limited intelligence we could gather, Basilisk was a fair entity that operated predominantly on a system of centralized power, where it’s disparate parts would be tithed or taxed, and in return protected by the central power. Our system was not harshly dissimilar, but it was true that Basilisk gave their individual parts more freedom than I gave places like Gilramore or Sunvilla.

At worst, I supposed, we could simply blitz past the greeting envoy and try to get to the beaches as soon as possible. We had enough amphibious adaptability that we’d likely be able to get to the island without difficulty. It was, admittedly, another forty kilometers off the coast, so it was hardly anything I would call a short trip, but should be just in our range.

Laughter broke me from my concentration, the back of the Ogre finally seeming to shake the depressing atmosphere loose.

“See? They’re doing fine,” Daniel grinned, eyes settling on Fran even as she looked forward towards us. She wore a warm smile on her face, making direct eye contact with the man beside me, who returned it with just as much heartfelt emotion.

I turned forward, my attention lingering on the sight of the group of people in the back of the Ogre. They’d eventually warm up to me, but for now I was the Leader of the Legion, a seemingly unapproachable figure. Perhaps they’d get over that and be able to see me as a person, but it would take time.

It didn’t take much longer before I began to see signs of civilization. Only five minutes from our meeting space, I noticed the tell-tale beating of a helicopter's blades in the air. Overhead, though a respectable distance away from us, a phalanx of eight heli’s paralleled us on either side. I frowned at the numbers, wondering at the fact that there were a great many of them more than expected.

My confusion gave way to suspicion as I noticed the city we traveled through, little more than an outpost town, bearing organized defenses and personnel. This wasn’t an outpost that was heavily manned, last we’d checked. Granted, that had been weeks ago, but this kind of change wasn’t what I considered normal.

My suspicion grew into outright wariness as I realized that several weapons emplacements were more than capable of pointing inwards towards the highway that intersected the town.

I quietly reminded the team leaders not to make any aggressive motions, and likewise scrapped the idea of trying to blitz past them. Our meeting point was in the middle of the town, and I suspected that Basilisk was far more capable than what I’d initially given them credit for.

That, I guessed, should have been a given. No organization could grow like they had, or we had, without learning some valuable lessons in security.

The convoy stopped minutes later, the lead vehicles pulling into one of the few new buildings in the city. It resembled a military installation, a new exit off the freeway having been made to lead straight towards a checkpoint and a structure that could hold dozens of Ogre’s.

It wouldn’t fit our entire convoy, but it was clear that this building was larger than what I expected to find here. Basilisk was less interested in expanding in our direction, given that the only other population it could find would be Sunvilla to the south of it.

I stood, stretching my limbs and marching over to where my suit was held, slipping against the mechanisms that would carefully begin to encase my body in hardened steel. The others likewise mobilized, including our mech users. Daniel extricated himself quietly, moving into the modified vessel designed to hold The Dauntless, just in case we found our welcome to be less than friendly.

“What’s going on?” Domino asked even as he ensured all of his equipment was ready.

“Not sure,” I answered honestly, “but Basilisk has a much more considerable military presence here than I expected to see.”

“Do you think that they knew we were going to try to push through?” Jessica asked, a concerned look on her face.

I shook my head, “Not likely. Very few knew that was a possibility I was planning. This could have likewise had nothing to do with us, but, better safe than sorry.”

“Granted,” Harold began, “if they did know about a huge convoy coming towards them, I imagine they’d get a little nervous.”

Richard nodded at that, “That’s true. Imagine what would happen if someone was doing that with us.”

I frowned behind my face plate. That was a good point, one that I supposed was helped only in that we were not engaging any kind of active weaponry in their direction. Generously, it could be said that we were, at least, not ready to engage at this moment.

An opportunistic would select this time to chip away at the potentially hostile movement before it could do any real damage.

However, we hadn’t been in no contact with Basilisk. In fact, I was fairly certain that Basilisk was perfectly aware of our movements on the roads, knowing well that we were down to their south. Being the only other major player in the area, it would be inevitable that we’d have contact of a more imminent sort.

Hell, we were monitoring them just as much as I’m sure they’ve been monitoring us.

Minutes passed, my observations of the mobilized fortifications giving me much to consider. Most of these people were skilled, at least upon initial estimations. Basilisk's personnel were dressed in deep blue and a darker shade of orange, their outfit tending to lean more towards light mesh suits for base personnel. Of them, though, there were many, and I noted that the vast majority of their defensive emplacements were semi mobile, but far more dedicated to the “weapon” side of the equation rather than mechs. It struck me that their progression path wasn’t terribly dissimilar from our own, and based on those that I saw around us, their heavy duty turret emplacements would give any biotic a run for their money.

Whether or not they would be comparable to our own arsenal, I was less than eager to find out in a direct confrontation. From what I could see, this was less a show of force, and more of a cautionary defense. That thought was only enhanced as I did see movement from near the compound, a large, mammoth mech that lumbered far too slowly to be viable on the move.

It was larger than the Main Line Mech’s that we used, but it seemed to be made more for power and as a mobile weapon battery than anything more elegant.

The MLM was designed as a weapon through and through, every bit of it lethal and flexible. This design, though larger and heavier, took a much more direct nod to what I imagined would just be several pieces of artillery given legs.

Not graceful, certainly, but I had no doubt that it was at least effective.

Though, it was true that at some point having a larger mech just stopped being a virtue and became a hindrance.

“Reaper, do you copy?” I heard Derrick’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“I read you, Derrick. What’s the situation?” Expression souring rapidly, I knew that he wouldn’t need to contact me unless there was an issue.

“Your presence is… requested at the command structure. It seems that there are some unexpected issues that have popped up.” He relayed, though the way he spoke, I knew it was hardly an actual request.

I sighed, “Routing to you now.”

“We’ll wait for you.” He said as he cut off the connection, no doubt speaking with whoever was in charge.

The Ogre moved with a simple act of will from myself, common things such as that now requiring little more than a push from my thoughts.

“What’s up?” I heard Daniel ask from over the comms, currently ready to move in The Dauntless, “Are we getting through after all?”

“Not quite sure yet,” I called back, “they want us over at the command structure. Seems there are issues after all.”

“Lovely,” Richard commented dryly, “I don’t suppose it’s because of the surprise convoy moving into their territory?”

“Not sure. I think that Derrick might have mentioned if it was something like that, but he was vague on the details.” I shook my head, uncertain exactly what the issue was.

We moved forward, coming next to the pair of Ogre’s already there, alongside the larger vehicle behind me.

The compound was large, blocky, and seemed to have been created uniformly out of a dull grey material. However, there were streaks of what looked to be gold shooting through, like veins in marble or granite, shining in the light of the sun. None of the building or its surroundings appeared to simply be reappropriated structures, everything purpose built for heavy-duty through traffic and the even heavier walkers that stalked around on what I now noted were at least three legs. Only one such walker was currently patrolling the grounds, but it stood at ten meters tall, tripod legs keeping the whole thing stable. Three others were nestled against the building itself, the only indication that they were manned being the humming of their engines, only barely audible as the ramp for the Ogre opened.

Four soldiers dressed in what resembled basic power armor stood at the ready as we descended the ramp. I couldn’t make out their faces, protected as they were, but I could clearly feel the wariness they felt increase at the sight of us. It was hardly a surprise; Derrick and the rest of the diplomatic team were adorned in very sleek, subtle mesh suits and escorted by likewise sleek assortments of bodyguards in form-fitted and personalized exo-suits. They wouldn’t look threatening.

But, given my recent upgrades to my power armor, and the fact that my entire team was bedecked in a more than respectable armament, there was a considerable cause for alarm.

“Hold there,” the lead soldier managed to say without hesitating long, “we’re to escort the… Reaper to the base commander.”

I turned my attention to the man, who shifted uncomfortably at the increased attention. My visor flared subtly red, like a crack in the black, smoky surface. “Then lead the way.”

The men around him exchanged wary glances, before the leader spoke again, “We’ll have to ask you to disarm and come alone.”

“Hmm…” I contemplated aloud, considering the four of them together once more. Their suits weren’t half bad, although I did note that they were hardly what could compete with our own. Even so, I wasn’t keen on disarming.

I couldn’t resist gesturing to all of me, “You realize that wouldn’t do much, right?”

There was another moment where the soldiers seemed to internally groan, likely not wanting to deal with this any more than I did.

“Look, I’m fully capable even without power armor.” I said, not gloating in the slightest, “I know you’re just doing your job, but is this really necessary?”

The man nodded, “Even so, I’m going to have to insist.”

Seconds lingered as I stared at the four of them, exasperation clear in my stature. They shifted, a subtle movement that said that they were prepared to come to blows, but wanted to avoid it all the same.

I let out a long breath, and shook my head. My armor let out a light hiss as it opened from the front, interlocking plates of metal shifting and making it easy for me to simply step forward out of the power armor. If nothing else, the armor was capable of allowing me to exit in the field. I disliked it, due to the fact that squeezing back into the thing was going to be harder.

Furthermore, squeezing out of it was less than ideal.

“Well?” I gestured wide with my hand, the skin-tight suit that covered my torso and legs doing little to cover my hands or feet. My bio-steel flesh was plain to see, and I didn’t need to wear anything else. I hadn’t been lying when I said that I could fight just fine as is.

The four flinched back, one of them mouthing something under his breath to the effect of shock.

At this point, I was less than amused, “Lead the way, then.”

“A-ah, yes, Sir.” The soldier stammered out, “Please follow us.”

I gave a glance backwards, seeing Fran nod to me. She’d keep everyone in order, though I could also tell that she was less than thrilled at the extra procedures.

Certainly, I could see the wisdom in attempting to limit weaponry and personnel to minimize safety risks. That made more sense for most people, but it was more of a formality than anything else to me.

I could literally tear someone apart. But, I supposed it would be just as well to keep my full capacities under wraps.

They escorted me through the halls, the cool floor barely registering to my bare feet. The first sensor we walked through was a metal detector.

Which went ballistic when I moved through.

The group awkwardly paused at that, and I couldn’t help but shrug helplessly, “I can only take so much off.”

At that, we kept moving, considering the detector literally mapped my entire body as metal. It was somewhat amusing, but at the same time it highlighted the issue.

At what point do you stop bothering disarming people?

Less than a minute and short elevator trip later, I could actually hear Derrick’s muffled voice.

The lead soldier knocked on the door, only for the door to beep and open on its own, admitting myself and the soldiers within.

There, Derrick and a few of our diplomats sat at a larger table, headed by who I assumed was the base commander and a few others besides. Two guards stood at attention in the corners of the room, and I could only assume the four beside me were called from another area. They came to attention elsewhere, Derrick’s glance telling me that they were new additions, rather than borrowed from the room in the first place.

I took in the room in a moment, noting the way the two initial guards tensed at my arrival, the open shock on the assistants faces, and the fractional shift of surprise on the commander’s face.

“I take it you’re Reaper?” The woman emblazoned in a light mesh suit, adorned with what appeared to be accolades on her right breast and shoulder, asked.

“In the flesh,” I smiled fractionally, “and you are?”

“Commander Morrison,” she inclined her head with a nod, before openly examining me in my relative state of undress, “if I may ask, do you come to every appointment similarly… dressed?”

I felt my jaw clench even as my gaze turned to a glare, “I could ask if you similarly strip the leaders of other organizations before you meet them,” I then turned my attention quite firmly on the soldiers that escorted me, “or if I’m a special case.”

The soldiers almost visibly withered when Morrison’s eye twitched.

“I see…” she managed to stop short of turning her attention to the guards beside her, “I apologize, my comment must seem in extremely poor taste. Ordinarily we see to it that individuals are disarmed, upon entry to governing structures. I hadn’t expected you to be so thoroughly outfitted as to be… well… this, afterwards.” She gestured to all of me, my pulse rising ever so slightly in annoyance once more. She didn’t seem to willfully want to irritate me, but it was hard not to view this as an intentional slight at this point.

A less than mature part of my mind wanted to snort at the fact that there were literally no parts of my body that were not currently being hugged by a skin-suit. Thoroughly outfitted indeed.

Putting away that thought, I stepped forward and sat myself at the table, adjacent to my own diplomats.

“I think we can agree that putting this behind us is the best way to avoid a diplomatic trainwreck.” I shot her a look that said that I was very thoroughly done entertaining the topic, “I’m told there are extenuating circumstances that we need to discuss.”

She let the slightest breath of relief out as she nodded, “Agreed. And yes, there are a few things that we need to discuss.” At that, she gestured, and the center of the table flared with a holographic display, to my surprise, “It’s clear that you’ve got a small army here at this border crossing. Given that we’ve had no stressful relations prior to today, I’m willing to take in good graces that this was an oversight, and not an attempt at hostilities.”

“However,” she continued, “I will need to know why you’re all crossing through here, and what your end goal is. Basilisk Port is a sovereign power, and while we’re not against friendly relations, we won’t roll over while you do whatever you’d like in our own territory.”

‘Which is exactly what we’re afraid of happening everywhere we go,’ I thought bitterly to myself, feeling Wolvey lingering in the background, idly agreeing.

“Most of the rules are straightforward, don’t steal, don’t kill people, you leave the law in our hands unless you’re threatened directly,” she gesticulated off hand, “all standard stuff. But let me be clear here, I’m not interested in political pussy-footing. You tell me why you’re here, I’ll report to my superiors, and we’ll see what’s what.”

I blinked at that, surprised at her relatively flippant attitude. I turned my attention to Derrick, understanding why he was wary of discussing this without my presence.

“I see,” I began, before settling back into my chair, “well, that’s a relief.”

She arched her brow, “Meaning?”

“I hate politics. I was beginning to think you were going to try jerking me around. The Legion has a hand in politics-” at this I nodded respectfully to Derrick, “-but I much prefer more direct means. As such, I can tell you some of why we’re here.”

Her frown deepened, but it seemed one based more in thought than disdain, “You understand that I can’t just let you roll through here without-”

I stopped her with a calming gesture, “yes, yes, I understand that. I have no problem telling you what I can, but this…” I paused contemplatively, “... no offense, but this may be well over your pay grade.”

“Try me.” Her dry statement told me everything I needed to know about the kind of person she was.

“Fine,” I shrugged, “but first, how much do you trust the people in this room?”

For the first time in our conversation, I saw the briefest glimpse of genuine interest swirl behind her eyes.