AN: This is the first time I've posted, so if you could let me know how I do that would be wonderful. My Shepard is based on the Earth born/sole survivor background, and she has a sort of Paragade outlook, though not in the traditional sense. This might become a two-shot.
Bioware owns anything you recognize.
"And that makes what I'm about to ask you even more difficult," Kirrahe said. "I need one of your men to accompany me. To help coordinate the teams."
"We'll need someone who knows Alliance communication protocols," Shepard mused. That narrowed down the list to either Williams or Alenko. And she knew that whoever she sent, she was likely sending them to their deaths.
"I volunteer, Commander," Kaidan piped up. Of course you do. He knew what it meant. And, Shepard was sure, he wanted to show off his "toughness" to her.
"Not so fast, LT," Ashley countered. "Commander Shepard needs your help to arm the nuke. I'll go with the salarians."
"With all due respect, Gunnery Chief, it's not your place to decide," Kaidan said testily.
"Why is it whenever someone says 'with all due respect' they really mean 'kiss my ass?'" Williams asked no one in particular. Shepard could almost hear Ashley's eyes rolling, which made her smirk slightly.
"Who would be better suited for the mission?" Shepard asked Kirrahe, ignoring both of them. She didn't really care what Kirrahe thought, but she knew it was the right thing to do. And it would look like she cared more, that it was a tough decision.
"Either of these two will do, Commander. Both seem willing to sacrifice their lives if necessary, though if we are lucky, such sacrifices won't be required." Shepard had to resist the urge to snort at that. Luck would have nothing to do with it, she knew. It would take skill and numbers, and they only had one.
She knew that both Williams and Alenko had the necessary skills to arm a nuke if needed. So the real question was who could she afford to lose? She weighed both of their skills carefully in her mind. Kaidan Alenko was a biotic and a tech, but he couldn't come on a lot of missions because of his migraines, and she had better biotics on hand. And Tali was a better tech than Kaidan could ever hope to be, and even Shepard herself was better than him. Ashley Williams was a soldier, pure and simple. But she was smart about it—she may have lost her squad, but she survived, which was very impressive considering the state of Eden Prime.
It looked like there was really only one logical choice. "Alenko, you're with the captain. Keep it simple, understood?" Shepard ordered. She made eye contact with him, and she could see that he understood what she was doing.
"Aye aye, Commander."
Kirrahe gave them a few final instructions, before walking off to organize his men.
"Well, this is it." Alenko started after he was out of ear shot. "Don't do anything foolish while I'm gone, Ash. That goes for you too, Commander," he said, turning to Shepard. She raised an eyebrow at that, but let it slide.
"We'll be fine, LT," Ashley assured him.
"Yeah, I just…" Kaidan hesitated. "Good luck," he finished lamely. There was his self-preservation kicking, and his doubt at his abilities to return.
"Is there something you wanted to say, Kaidan?" Shepard asked, trying to sound sincere and kind.
"It's just weird, going under someone else's command. I've gotten so used to working with you…all of you," Kaidan said awkwardly. Not a chance, Kaidan. It was getting harder for Shepard not to roll her eyes at him. She knew that that was not what he really wanted to say.
"Don't worry so much. We'll see you on the other side," Ashley said, sounding like she was trying to convince herself, too. No Ashley, we won't. Shepard could feel it in her gut.
"I know, I um," Kaidan hesitated again. "I just wanted to say it's been an honor serving with you, Commander." He sounded very earnest, Shepard almost felt bad for him. Almost.
"It doesn't matter if we're not in the same unit, we're still a team. Watch each other's backs, keep your eyes open and fight like I know you can. We'll all come out of this in one piece." It was scary how good Shepard was getting at this. It sounded like she actually believed what she was saying, with just the right amount of worry underlying her tone, to show that she cared.
"You bet, Commander," Kaidan said softly, before going to join Captain Kirrahe's men.
She never liked Kaidan, anyways.
"Commander, do you read me?" Kaidan's voice came over the comm.
"The nuke is almost ready, Lieutenant. Get to the rendezvous point!" Shepard didn't let any of her exasperation leak into her voice.
"Negative, Commander. The geth have us pinned down on the AA tower. We've taken heavy casualties. We'll never make the rendezvous point in time!" There was gunfire in the background.
"Get them out of there, Joker. Now!" Shepard commanded.
"Negative, it's too hot! You can't risk it. We'll hold them off as long as we c—"
"It's okay, Commander," Ashley cut Kaidan off. "I need a couple of minutes to finish arming the nuke. Go get them and meet me back here." Shepard nodded.
"Up to the AA tower," she ordered, turning to Garrus and Wrex. "Move!"
The three of them run to the door, only to be stopped by a group of Saren's krogan. Shepard sighed. It was never that simple, was it? They managed to gun their way through, Shepard mindful to stay behind Wrex in case he changed his mind about the genophage cure. That obstacle passed, they started jogging towards the AA towers.
"Damn, geth are sending in reinforcements," Wrex muttered as they saw a geth dropship flying low overhead, heading towards the bomb sight.
"Chief, we just spotted a troop ship in bound to your location." Kaidan's voice, a little late.
"It's already here, and it's bleeding geth all over the bomb sight!" Ashley sounded a little bit panicky.
"Can you hold them off?" Shepard asked her, already knowing the answer.
"There's too many! I don't think we can hold them!" Ashely cried. "I'm activating the nuke!"
That was a little unexpected. "What are you doing, Chief?" Shepard asked, harsher than she intended.
"Making sure this bomb goes off. No matter what." Williams was determined. "It's done, Commander. Go get the Lieutenant and get the hell out of here!"
"Belay that. We can handle ourselves. Go back and get Williams," Alenko ordered. Shepard was getting a little tired of getting ordered around by the two of them.
"Williams, radio Joker and tell him to meet us at the bomb site," Shepard ordered. In hindsight, she probably should have hesitated a little longer to appear as if it was a tough decision, but speed was the key here. She didn't have time to worry about her squad's feelings—she had already given up Kaidan for dead the second she told him to go with Kirrahe. And securing the bomb site was much more important.
"Yes, Commander. I…" Ashely's voice broke.
"It's the right choice and you know it, Ash." Shepard could hear the hurt and fear in Kaidan's voice, despite him trying to cover it up with bravado.
"I'm sorry, Kaidan. I had to make a choice," Shepard said sincerely. She was sorry, and she did have to make a choice. She just wasn't necessarily sorry that Kaidan had to die. Technicalities.
"I understand, Commander. I don't regret a thing."
"Don't lie to me, Kaidan," Shepard said softly before running back to Ashley.