This is the revivsed Prolouge! Special Thanks to Amwdrizz who fixed the Conversations, grammar and loads of other stuff!
The Normandy was returning to the Citadel after heading out to the Armstrong nebula regarding a potential Geth incursion. Even though they received the data late, it is still useful. During the various ground side missions, they located a geth data hub which contained geth evolution data since the uprising. Tali requested a copy of the data as the perfect pilgrimage gift, and Shepard of course complied. While returning to the Citadel, the Normandy received an urgent message directly from the Council regarding ship disappearances in the Trafalgar Sector. En-route Shepard decided this would be the time to announce his thank you to the crew and those that would be departing.
Shepard got off the elevator, entering the cargo bay he noticed Garrus was cleaning his rifle. That Turian had an affinity for calibrations and weapon maintenance. A few steps into the cargo bay Garrus noticed Shepard and greeted him.
"Hey Shepard, Good morning!"
"Morning Garrus!" Shepard replied on his way to the crew meeting he called moments ago.
"Now or never"Shepard thought to himself as he approached the makeshift podium he would give his thank you speech from.
"Hello crew members, it was a tough battle but the council is aware of the threat of the reapers. Which means we can start the process of fighting back. But this isn't about the council, what happened, or if you desire to continue to server on this ship. No this, is a thank you; if it were not for you we never would of made it to Illos, we never would of stopped Sovereign." Shepard paused and looked out over the various crew members gathered.
"You may not think it, but your heroes in my book, even if the galaxy doesn't recognize what you did. I am not going to force you to stay, I know some of you want to return to your families, friends, and lives. I will not hold that against you, You've made me proud, and it was an honor to serve with each and every one of you. As a token of my thanks, we will be docking at the Citadel at which point those who are staying are given some shore leave and while it may not be the same since the attack you've all earned some rest. Those who are leaving the ship are more than welcome to depart while we are docked at the Citadel. Thank you all, " Shepard paused then snapped a salute
"Crew dismissed" he ended with the crew returning the salute and heading to their respective areas on the ship with a few staying and conversing with one and another.
"Man I need to learn how do to better speeches, I'm no Winston Churchill that is for sure." Shepard mumbled to himself citing an old Word War II reference he learned from World History.
He looked over the crew with a smile to as he noticed how everyone had started talking to each other in what looked like a friendly fashion, Wrex and Garrus had a discussion on which kind of weapon is the most effective, a sniper rifle or a shotgun.
As he stood there looking at his crew he noticed a certain Quarian was missing from the bunch
"Where is she? She's probably working in on the core, leaving the ship later today and still working on the core that one will never stop."
"Shepard! What brings you here?" Tali said while Shepard entered engineering.
"What I can't check on my favorite engineer before we dock at the Citadel? I do still firmly recall that you owe me a date later"
"Oh yeah, I know it's just uhm it's just " Tali spoke stumbling upon her words.
"Tali, calm down I'm not forcing you!"
"It's not that Shepard, I want to it's just that I have never really been on a date, with a uhm" Tali slightly paused in her words "Human or Quarian for that matter"
"Really? I can't imagine the guys on the flotilla leaving you alone for long"
"Some others around my age hinted on that, but it is against our customs to consider a relationship when both come from the same birth ship. That is how we keep a genetic difference between us, is by changing ships after our pilgrimage."
"I see Tali, have you decided on which ship you want to serve on?"
"I have, I would like to continue serving on the Normandy. If it is alright with you of course."
"What about the Migrant Fleet? Won't they be disappointed in not returning?"
"Who said I wouldn't be returning, this data would prove very useful for the fleet, and I want to give it to them. And with the reapers coming, I can help the fleet more if I continue to serve on the Normandy."
"I would be honored that you want to continue serving on the Normandy, but we are off topic. And getting back on topic, I understand if you would prefer not to go on a date with me."
"I uhm... " Tali stuttered, "I would..." Tali was interrupted by Joker over the intercom.
"Shepard! We have arrived in Trafalgar Sector, and we might have spotted an... My god what is that." Joker said over the intercom in a slightly rushed tone.
"What is that..." Joker repeated in awe of seeing such an large and strangely designed ship.
"Whats the sit rep Joker?" Shepard said into his personal communicator as he headed towards the bridge with speed.
"I have never seen a ship like that! It almost looks.. organic in a way"
"It doesn't matter if it's made out of waffles or metal is it friendly or not?" Shepard said as he approached Jokers side in a concerned tone
"I don't know it's not emitting any signatures! Oh my god it's powering its weapons evasive maneuvers!" Joker shouted in alarm as he started maneuvering the Normandy away from the ship that was preparing to fire on them.
Out in space, the unknown ship finished its preparations to fire its main weapon as soon as the weapon was at full power it began firing upon the Normandy. In a split second a third of the Normandy's hull plating on the starboard side was sheered away by the weapons immense power.
"Shit, shit, shit" Shepard said in a louder voice, full panic mode kicking in. Upon the last utterance of the swear, Shepard reached for the emergency personal life support units stored in the cockpit. Passing one to Joker, he affixed the other to himself.
"Joker! Keep the ship afloat and then get into the Escape pod, try to avoid them for 5 more minutes while I try to get the crew to the escape pods!"
Shepard didn't wait for the acknowledgment from Joker as he sprinted towards the elevator to help get others to the safety of the escape pods.
"Okay everyone needs to get of the ship! Bring all the wounded to the escape pods" Shepard barked to all personal currently on the crew deck.
"Kaidan! Take care of the evacuation of the upper floors of the ship will you? And make sure that Joker doesn't do anything stupid" Said Shepard as he spotted Kaidan helping the wounded, he simply nodded and started running towards the elevator.
After what felt like an eternity of collecting the wounded and carrying them to the escape pods he noticed Dr. Chakwas.
"Chakwas! Have you accounted for everyone!"
"No, Shepard, everyone in the Cargo hold is here but they reported that Tali stayed behind in the core room to try and stabilize it."
"God Fucking Dammit!" Screamed Shepard as he took the emergency ladder to the cargo level to get to engineering.
"Tali! Are you here? Answer me!" Shepard screamed when he entered the engineering room.
Glancing around, this section of the ship was already badly damaged by the first blast of the unknown ship, almost the entire deck was aflame with numerous holes throughout. The only thing keeping life support function in this section of the ship was the blue shimmering of the Normandy's shields.
"Joker is the ship holding up? Can you avoid the bastards for a few more minutes? While I get Tali?" Shepard yelled with authority into his communicator.
"Commander! This is Kaidan, Joker is already off the ship I forced him into an escape pod after he got injured in a console explosion what the hell are you doing still on the ship?"
Shepard didn't even respond but just simply switched his communicator to the ship wide P.A. System.
"This is Commander Shepard! If you are still on this ship get to an escape pod, The Alliance will see our Beacon and come to our rescue! I repeat evacuate imminently"
Shepard started walking trough the fire as he tried to find Tali.
"God damn it" mumbled Shepard.
Walking through the only door that resembled the drive core Shepard noticed that Tali was leaning against the wall to the closest drive core panel. Tali was working on the panel furiously and clutching her side obviously in pain from some injury she just received.
"Tali! Are you alright? Any suit ruptures?" Said Shepard in a panic as he ran up and put his hands on Tali's shoulders.
"Ugh I'm fine Shepard, what.. what are you doing here" Said Tali obviously feeling the effects from blood loss.
"We are getting off the ship! Come on!"
Before Tali could respond Shepard grabbed her hand that was working on the drive core and started to pull her to the nearest escape pod.
"Stop Shepard I need to...fix the ship" Tali protested while trying to drag her feet.
"Shepard! The Ship is gonna fire soon! Get outta there" Kaiden yelled through the communication systems.
Shepard didn't even have time to react before the explosion hit, the beam went right trough the ship sending shrapnel flying and sending both Tali and Shepard flying back.
"Shepard! No.. no you are gonna be fine come on!"
Looking down Shepard noticed he had a portion of the deck plate lodged in his chest, it luckily missed his heart but still severed an artery. Further examination also showed his left arm is held on by a few strands of muscle in skin. With his last breath, he looked at Tali.
"Tali.. get, out of... here. Get to an escape pod..."
"Shepard, don't say that. I... I can get some medi-gel, get you to the escape pod."
"Tali, I won't make it. Go get to an escape pod, I.." Shepard said as his last breath left him, with his head rolling to the side.
Tali started crying as she put her face shield to Shepard face before limping away to the escape pod.
There we go. The end of the Prolouge! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned for more Chapters coming soon!
