PROLOGUE

Titan. 2178 CE

Her visor was fogging up. Again.

If only she could suppress her uncontrollable hyperventilating.

It's just that Titan was so…incredible. It beat the heck out of the Luna station, and Macapa back on Earth. A small plume of dust circled around her boot as she took that first step.

Ashley Williams beamed. Her first time off an Alliance Frigate. Saturn churned off in the distance, a slumbering majestic giant. If only Dad could see this.

It's my first big step dad, you'd be so proud of your Ash…

Oof! She was face first in the muck thanks to a well-placed boot to the ass.

"WILLIAMS! Quit your damn GOLDBRICKING!" Goddamn Gunny Ellison. The canada goose squawk of his voice tore at her eardrums.

God damn you.

Rolling over, Ashley could see his arms were crossed in that oh-so-disapproving manner she had grown so accustomed to seeing. "Stand up now! We have no time to take in the view Williams! If you lollygagged into combat with your head in the goddamned clouds, there'd likely be a bullet in that air-filled head of yours no time flat!"

Ashley stood, needlessly brushing off her legs, only to find the mess was becoming worse. Tittering laughter was slowly coming to a crescendo around her.

"Hahaha check it out…a Williams in a mess, just like Shanxi!" One of the privates began to laugh, and the laughter spread virus-like through the rest of the group.

Ashley positively hated the word Shanxi. It was practically an ethnic slur in the Williams household.

Keep it together Ash, keep it together. Keep your cool.

But the mirth was persistent. "Really Sir? You sure we really need another Williams in the Alliance? Sure you've got enough white flags? Some battle plan! We could kiss any victory goodbye."

Too late. "Fuck off asshole!" She snapped back; the desire to rip the soldiers a new one mounting.

"WILLIAMS! MARINES! That's enough! Now line up!" Gunny howls. Without a word or sound they comply like dogs in an obedience class; acting on orders. The others are all still giggling. Her only response is to roll her eyes, which only makes the apes laugh harder. Men...boys.

Ashley has the distinction of being the only girl in the unit out on Titan. And she was fine with that.

She remembered back home on Amaterasu most girls got wet feet at the enlistment hearing of the decided lack of leave time during training. But what about my boyfriend? I'd never get to see him again! Boo-hooing to the representatives about frivolous things.

Ashley Williams never understood this. You leave the few to serve the many; and Ashley knew that well before she enlisted. She grew up with it.

Her family was the only 'baggage' she had.

Nonetheless she was more than just the only girl in the platoon. She was the only Williams; simultaneously a blessing and a curse.

Sympathy from some, but shit from most.

Her sisters and mother all thought Ashley was insane when she left for basic, but Ashley was doing it for dad and grandpop. She was going to be the one to bring significance back to the Williams name. Her finest hour was coming, she knew it. Now was all about preparing for it.

Dad never made it past 3rd rank, and Grandpop surrendered to the damn Turians at Shanxi, leaving him to fall into obscurity in a desk job.

Ashley had yet to meet a Turian, but when that time finally arrived, he/she/it better watch their back.

Gunny's raspy voice boomed over the comm. "MARINES! The purpose of our time here on Titan is for you all to complete Hostile Environment Combat Training, as well as Zero-Gee combat simulations. Assuming any of you pusillanimous pit dogs make it past ground forces you may be placed in perilous situations much like how it is here on Titan."

Ellison started his characteristic pace. "You've all been outfitted with special adaptable combat hard suits. Standard issue for the Alliance. That suit is not just protecting you, it's the reason you're even standing. One perforation in that suit, and forget it, instantaneous death. The atmosphere here, and on many other planets is lethal. And for starters here today you're all to run for 20 minutes. That way you'll experience paced movement in a fully enclosed suit. Now MOVE OUT!"

And without question off they went, trudging through muck and clouds of gas. It's such an alien feeling. Ashley felt like she was floating, with minimal effort from her legs. The others around her are doing cartwheels and flips, despite the fact that Gunny Ellison would probably make them give at least 100 for that. One hundred would probably be child's play with this kind of gravity.

She tried for a sprint, but now it got tougher. Like trying to run underwater.

Not even 10 minutes goes by before Gunny's voice is cracking over the comm. "MARINES! Double back, there's something important coming over the news vids and I want you all to see this!"

News vids? Since when does Gunny Ellison give a rat's ass about media?

The unit packed into a small mobile facility set up on the moon's surface and crowded around a small extranet terminal. A new vid came to life on the screen.

It was odd, hearing the newscaster's monotonous voice as scenes of violent and frenzied combat flash on the screen;

"If you're just tuning in we have exclusive footage from the slaver base on Torfan where the Systems Alliance Military has just hauled in an unprecedented number of slavers, pirates and rogue privateers from the small moon.

The violent stand-off, an Alliance-led retaliation for the Skyllian Blitz, lasted nearly 10 hours but has since come to a bloody close; a decisive victory for the Alliance.

Unfortunately the raid was a massacre, with at least 15 marines, and 10 civilians confirmed dead.

The unit, lead by controversial military leader, Commander Shepard, executed the raid with a small squad yesterday night around 11:00PM Citadel Standard Time.

Bystanders have been describing the scene as an absolute bloodbath; with Batarian casualties nearing 30. The unit fought bravely to the death, apparently making certain not one slaver made it out of the base alive.

An Alliance surveillance team on Torfan is working with ExoGeni corps to assess the damage done by the raid.

As a direct result of the raid, the Batarians have already begun to retreat out of Citadel Space and have issued a statement claiming they will cut diplomatic ties with the Citadel and Citadel races.

The Batarian Hegemony is demanding an immediate arrest and tribunal for Commander Shepard.

However Alliance sources tell us that Commander Shepard is to be honored later this week for clearing out such a large band of criminals from the Traverse. Successfully securing Citadel trade routes to and from the moon, and it's surrounding colonies once more.

Although, several prominent activist groups are calling to boycott the ceremony claiming that Commander Shepard is merely a "butcher who had ruthlessly slaughtered people that surrendered; exhibiting an utter disregard for life." Stay tuned to see this controversial ceremony."

Gunny Ellison looked perturbed and shook his head. "Oh Joey…dear sweet Joey…How'd I know it'd be you?" He muttered to no one in particular. Though it did not go unheard by Ashley.

Ashley found herself wondering how the heck Gunny knows the Commander. She'd never even seen the Commander's face, left with only numerous tales of incredible courage and gall in the face of danger.

And of course, there was the near constant reminder of Commander Shepard being a relentless thorn in the side of the Alliance Brass. A prime example of who not to be like. But Ashley couldn't help but feel slight awe. Despite all this, the Alliance owed Shepard. The Commander always got the job done. No question.

The rest of the guys are buzzing like bees.

"Shit and I thought I was an asshole, I wouldn't kill people who surrendered!"

"15 dead Marines?"

"Commander Shepard must be a total badass to pull that off. I hope I don't ever have to serve under that bastard!"

Gunny Ellison still looks shaken up, apparently to the point of defeat. "Fall back marines, take the rest of the day off. Get back on the ship. Reconvene in the mess in 3 hours to talk about this." He turned and headed back.

"Since when is Ellison a freakin' shrink?" One of the privates quips with a scoff.

"They're just Batarians, who gives a damn about those assholes? The galaxy is 30 dead slavers safer now thanks to Shepard!"

"But Shepard also nearly killed the entire unit sent to liberate Torfan! My buddy is stationed near there, and how do I know if he's one of the dead?"

Everyone was left wondering what they would have done in that situation.

Ashley certainly was. Shepard existed as an enigma to her. Perhaps, she figured, one day she'd be able to ask why…

TBC.

Disclaimer: Mass Effect is not mine. If it were...well...you know.