#flashpoints

This report is from this week’s CNBC’s The China Connection newsletter, which brings you insights and analysis on what’s driving the world’s second-largest economy. You can subscribe here. The big story China is closing out 2025 with far more confidence on the world stage than at the start of the year. It was the first major economy to retaliate against U.S. “Liberation Day” tariffs, and has…

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Part of the Flashpoints series: a Mass Effect Shakarian Formula 1 AU

Maybe it’s just because he skipped dinner and went straight to drinking, but he seems surprisingly relaxed, all things considered. He’s even put cologne on; the breeze blows it gently towards her as she leans on the railing beside him.

The old city crawls and glitters over tarmac and cobbles a few stories beneath them and Garrus’ profile cuts a familiar shape in the night, that angular nose like the wind-cut face of a cliff in miniature. Only his hands give him away. The way they can’t quite stay still.

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Part of the Flashpoints series: a Mass Effect Shakarian Formula 1 AU

Laurie's expression is turning wary and the churning feeling in Garrus’s chest is building, the yellow November sun painting the walls burning shapes onto his retinas. He shouldn’t push it – it’s not fair – but surely, surely she can't mean—

“Maybe we should talk about it another time,” she says, reaching for the remote.

“No,” Garrus blurts out. “No, tell me.”

He expected to hear from Castis about Miami. Corin hauled him over the coals, even Victus gave him a dressing-down, but Castis? Nothing. Not a single word.

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Part of the Flashpoints series: a Mass Effect Shakarian Formula 1 AU

Al-Jilani tries (and fails) to draw her in with pointed questions about Anderson giving her an easy ride, maybe to compensate for Garrus, and Conrad Verner reaches for the usual low-hanging fruit.

“Any comment on whether you’re rekindling your relationship with Thane Krios?” he asks, his big square face expectant.

Shepard scratches under her chin. “How come I'm always the last person to find out who I’m dating?”

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Part of the Flashpoints series: a Mass Effect Shakarian Formula 1 AU

“Was it that bad a week with Mom?” Garrus says into the stuffy silence. Solana is staring out of the window; all he can see is the back of her head and her wobbly reflection in the window.

“Dad wanted to cancel the trip,” she says dully. “But she wouldn’t let him.”

It’s hard not to miss the people they all were back then, before they knew Laurie was sick: wilful and ambitious and full of the future. Hard not to miss her before she’s even gone.

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Part of the Flashpoints series: a Mass Effect Shakarian Formula 1 AU

Outside of a few scathing interviews and minor run-ins on track, Saren and Anderson have mostly ignored each other, like street cats resigned to sharing territory. The press have been leaning on the reformed criminal angle because it sells – any excuse to run cutesy photos of Saren carrying Nihlus’s nieces around – but Shepard’s not convinced. Sovereign are still getting up to speed and whatever else Saren might be to Anderson, he’s a smart strategist. No use going for broke unless he’s got a race-winning car.

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