Mass Effect: A Hero's Legacy

Mass Effect: A Hero's Legacy is a novel in the Mass Effect series written by MarkRulez711. It will be set as a sequel novelization that takes place after the events of Mass Effect 3.

Plot

 * In the year 2186, the inhabitants of the Milky Way faced annihilation against a terrifying enemy. The Reapers—a highly advanced ancient race of sentient starships—had returned from dark space to begin their next purge of organic life in the galaxy. Led by Commander Shepard, the galactic community joined to build a powerful superweapon—dubbed "the Crucible"—and destroyed the Reapers at the Second Battle for Earth.


 * Although the allied forces emerged victoriously, it did not come without sacrifice.


 * Twelve years later, the galaxy had finally completed its last stage of rebuilding its lost infrastructure, enacting repopulation efforts, and repairing the damaged mass relays after a long, vigorous process. With the promise of a new golden age being made a reality and the races now having an equal voice, many are eager to focus their attention towards a future greater than anyone could imagine.


 * They call it…

'''MASS EFFECT

A HERO'S LEGACY'''

Post-Battle Aftermath
Sometime after the final confrontation with the Reapers during the Second Battle for Earth, the remaining allied forces gathered at the rendezvous point near the wreckage of the Charon mass relay. Under the command of Fleet Admiral Steven Hackett, he instructed many vessels to begin making arrangements to officially start an estimated three month long reconstruction effort to rebuild the relays and the Citadel in the Sol system; allied personnel estimates an approximate 12 years before the galaxy-wide reconstruction efforts are completed. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Major Coats calls on any surviving resistance fighters, along with volunteer forces, to immediately begin searching for survivors among the ruins of London and around the world.

In a distant corner of the galaxy, the SSV Normandy SR-2, under the temporary commanded of Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams, managed to successfully navigate its voyage back to Earth after crash landing on an unknown planet to assist with relief efforts. With the loss of EDI, re-establishing any long range communications proved difficult for a while. Jack and her students along with a team of asari commandos use their biotics to remove the debris, Urdnot Wrex and turian Primarch Adrien Victus coordinate efforts to maintain security, and Oriana Lawson volunteers at a makeshift medical facility while her sister Miranda Lawson oversees several projects with Alliance officers.

After the end of the Reaper invasion, the galaxy's civilizations are enjoying a new era of peace. On an unnamed garden world, the Normandy crew who survived the crash landing gathered solemnly at an assembly on Deck 3, quietly lowering their heads honoring the memory of all the people who gave their lives in the war. Among the more noticable crew standing in front row across from the memorial wall were Ashley, Joker, Garrus, Tali, James, Liara, Javik, Samantha and Steve. All of them had just finished adding the recent casualty to the wall: Admiral David Edward Anderson. A respected war hero, one of the first N7 Special Forces operatives, the first human Citadel Councilor and father-figure to his troops, the news of Anderson's death shocked and saddened both human and alien civilians and military personnel alike.

Ashley stepped forward holding a second name plaque in her hands, one that reads "COMMANDER SHEPARD". For just a brief moment, she stopped and looked down. Slowly and softly, Ash brushed her hand across the plaque before looking up towards the Memorial Wall again. As she stared blankly into nowhere, something in her gut told her not to do it. It was too soon. The Normandy crew was among those who wanted to believe that their captain was still out there, but there was some growing discontent among the staff who wanted the others to accept the terms of reality.

Recalling Shepard's confession of love to her just moments prior to launching an assault on Cerberus headquarters, Ashley hesitates to put the Commander's name on the memorial wall, eventually refusing to do so―causing the squad to look at the second human Spectre in surprise. With a renewed sense of determination, Ashley orders Joker to prep the Normandy for departure ASAP, with the idea of returning to Earth. With that, the flight lieutenant limped his way towards the elevator. The other soon followed, leaving Ash behind for a few moments.

Concurrently, Alliance Command have not been able to verify the whereabouts of Commander John Shepard, himself. He was among those listed as MIA. It was several hours since the search began and many beseeched Fleet Admiral Steven Hackett to declare him killed in action, but Hackett refused.

Back on the badly damaged Citadel, a rescue party searching for Shepard finds him buried under a pile of rubble, and they radio in to say that they have a visual on the Commander. Shepard later takes a gasping breath, showing to have survived the Crucible's blast. Upon noticing this, the leader of the group demands an immediate medical evacuation.