Hey so this is going to be a fic based around character (mostly squad) interactions between each other in-between missions, just to try and paint a better picture of the relationships between Commander Rayne Shepard and her crew during her mission to defeat collectors. I plan on this having lots of chapters based through the entire ME2 game. This is going to try and stick to Canon as much as possible but obviously as is with Mass Effect everyone's choices will differ. So yeah, hope you enjoy and please leave a review :) Oh and for anyone wondering Rayne is Colonist/Sole Survivor/Sentinel :)

[Set after escaping the Lazarus project and before the mission on Freedom's progress]

Miranda Lawson stepped into the holographic communication with the Illusive Man, her face looking down to the floor.

''Miss Lawson'' The Illusive man paused as he took a puff from his cigar ''Would you kindly tell me what the hell happened to Lazarus?''

''Sir, it was Wilson, he went rogue and hacked the mechs to attack us, but myself and Operative Taylor managed to successfully awoke and extracted the subject alive and unharmed''

The Illusive man leaned forward in his chair with intrigue.

''Shepard's awake?!''

''Yes sir, I awoke her when the mechs started attacking, it was the best option to ensure her survival, I didn't want to, I know that she isn't quite ready yet but…''

Miranda was interrupted by her boss

''I'm guessing you've done some body scans on her, send me the report''

''Of course sir'' Miranda opened her omni-tool and forwarded the Illusive Man a full report of Shepard's current physiological state.

''She seems capable enough, for a starter she managed to get herself and Operative Taylor out of that base alive, which in itself is no small achievement'' Miranda tried to reassure the Illusive Man.

The Illusive Man scanned through the report Miranda sent him almost ignoring what she said whilst mumbling to himself.

''Crimson red, shoulder length hair, blue eyes, some scarring but nothing that shouldn't heal'' Looks up at Miranda ''Your work is to be commended Operative Lawson, you have proven once more why you're my top operative…And what of Wilson?''

''He's dead, it was necessary''

''Of course, good work Operative Lawson'' The Illusive man pauses as he finishes reading the report ''I will assess Shepard's well-being myself, send her in''

''Of course sir'' Miranda turns and leaves the communication, heading up the stairs towards Commander Shepard.

''The Illusive Man wishes to speak to you'' Miranda gestures towards the stairs and starts walking meaningfully towards Jacob, reaching him as Commander Shepard leaves the room.

''One job Jacob, you had one job, to protect the lazarus facility from attack and look what's happened, the first sign of trouble in 2 years and you don't do a thing about it, you even place our most valuable asset on a team with the rogue agent, were you /trying/ to undo all my hard work?!''

Jacob looked at Miranda completely in shock.

''Come on Miranda, we both know that I couldn't have prevented this''

''Your only job was to protect the facility and you couldn't even manage that, when the facility came under attack did you not think to check the security cam feeds to see who hacked the mechs?''

''I was kind of too busy being shot at Miranda!'' Jacob was starting to get annoyed at Miranda's assertions

''If you want to cure someone of a disease Jacob you treat the disease not the symptoms, I don't have patience for your incompetence Jacob, especially when it almost gets us killed!''

''You know what Miranda you make it very difficult for people to like you.''

''I'm not looking for friends Jacob especially not incompetent ones like you'' Miranda scowled as she turned and returned to her terminal, just in time for Commander Shepard to return to the room.

''Operative Lawson the Illusive man wants to speak to you before we leave'' Commander Shepard said as she reached the top of the stairs

''Thank you…Shepard'' Miranda walked down the stairs. She was finding it difficult to think that the project she had been working on for the last 2 years was now a living, breathing human being with emotions and feelings. She erased the thought from her head and stepped into the holographic communication once more.

''Miranda'' The Illusive Man paused to take a puff from his cigar ''I've spoken to Shepard, she seemed more than capable, a little doubtful of our goals but I think I've found a way of rectifying that'' He stops to take a drink of brandy ''I'm sending you and Operative Taylor to accompany Shepard to a recently abducted human colony in the Terminus Systems, Freedom's Progress. But I want to make one thing clear, Shepard is in charge and you will take orders from her. With that said I still expect you to monitor her progress and send me a full assessment of her abilities when the mission is complete''

Miranda felt slightly disgruntled, she had spent 2 years of her life re-building Shepard for Cerberus just to be replaced by her own creation? Miranda couldn't understand what was so special about Commander Shepard, yes she was a hero but how could the Illusive Man place his faith in Shepard over her? His top operative. Miranda hid her disappointment away from the Illusive Man, she wasn't one to disobey a direct order.

''Yes sir, although there is small problem I'd like to raise''

The Illusive man raised an eyebrow and took a puff of his cigar.

''And what would that be?''

''I'm not entirely confident in Operative Taylor's abilities, he failed to protect project lazarus from attack and lead Shepard straight into the arms of a rogue agent''

''Noted Operative Lawson, however I would still like him to accompany you to Freedom's Progress, he is…expendable''

Miranda silently nodded in response.

''You are dismissed'' with that the Illusive Man ends the communication and Miranda turns and walks up the stairs towards Jacob and Commander Shepard who was now fully armoured.

''Operative Lawson, are you ready to leave?'' Shepard gestured towards the shuttle with a smile; Miranda simply brushed past her and stepped up onto the shuttle.

Shepard took a second to admire Miranda's posterior as she climbed onto the shuttle before shaking the thought from her mind and following behind Jacob onto the shuttle.

Commander Rayne Shepard stepped aboard the shuttle and took the seat opposite her 2 new Cerberus companions, she wasn't sure if she trusted them just yet, she had seen what Cerberus had done first hand when she tried to help Admiral Kahoku, but she needed to find out if what The Illusive Man had told her was true, was humanity really under attack? Whether she trusted the pair or not didn't matter right now, they were the only squad she had, so she figured she might as well try and get along with them.

''So Miranda, Jacob here tells me you're quite the ice queen'' Shepard remarked jokingly.

Miranda shot Jacob a deadly glance before turning back to Shepard.

''I'm not here to make friends Commander, I'll follow your orders to the letter just don't expect anything more''

Rayne glanced at Jacob who had a solemn look on his face. She didn't know what to make of Jacob, he seemed like a nice enough guy but she carried his ass in battle whilst escaping the Lazarus facility, only time would tell whether he would be a help or a hindrance. Then there was Miranda, she didn't give Shepard the best of first impressions, she seemed distant and cold and Shepard didn't like it. During her mission against the geth Shepard had become very close friends with her squad mates, she didn't like people following her out of fear, she was more about building team morale through friendship, something she couldn't see Miranda being open to anytime soon.

''So what are your orders Commander?'' Miranda leant forward in her seat.

''Our priority is to search for survivors''