Normandy SR-2 – Deck 5
"Were did you get this?" Shepard asked studying the data pad of a Reaper.
"A present from Liara." replied Joker as he pressed the elevator button for the CIC.
"Being an informant for the Shadow Broker does have its advantages." Shepard concentrated on the data pad. All that could be heard in the background was the humming of the elevator climbing the shaft to the CIC.
Normandy SR-2 – Deck 2
The doors opened to the CIC. Shepard and Joker walked out the elevator; he placed the data pad next to his private terminal and continued to follow Joker to the bridge.
"What's the status of the Normandy?" Shepard asked.
"EDI will give us a fully status report when we are at the bridge." Joker replied limping up the steps. They walked the corridor into the bridge, they sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats. They turned towards EDI's hologram projector. The blue orb of light appeared. "Jeff, Shepard I have the status report ready."
"What's the damage?" asked Shepard sitting forward.
"All crew counted and present, no major injuries
The Primary fusion reactor: 48%
Mass effect core: offline
Stealth systems: 100% and engaged
H-fuel cells: 65%
Life support: 89.9%
Backup power supply: 100%
Hull integrity: 49%, we can't enter FTL or Mass relays unless we want the Normandy to disintegrate in transit.
The hull needs to be repaired in a dry dock." She faded back into her hologram projector.
"So were stranded in space. Great…" remarked Joker. He reached towards his mini-fridge next to his seat
"It could be worse."
"How can it?"
"I don't know? All I know is it could be worse." he replied as he took the beer from Joker, both of them took a gulp from their bottles. They sighed and started to look outside at the sun, they watched it as it flared slowly into the vacuum of space. Taking another sip of his beer Shepard asked "EDI, what star system are we in?" the blue orb of light appeared "We are in the Utopia system."
"So an Alliance ship might pass and spot us."
"That is extremely likely Shepard."
"Hopefully they don't blow us up into a thousand pieces from seeing that Cerberus logo painted on the side." Added Joker while sipping his beer. Shepard just shook his head at his remark. They both continued to look outside for a few minutes until EDI reappeared. "Jeff, Shepard I have detected that a ship has just entered the system."
"Is it the Alliance?"
"I'm not sure at this moment. But I can confirm it's a Dreadnought."
"We're fucked." Joker injected.
"Joker..." Shepard replied in a displeased tone. He got out of his chair and stood behind Joker.
"EDI, do you have an ID of the ship yet?" he asked stating out the bridge.
"Its IFF registers as Alliance." he nodded to her response. "Joker, disengage the stealth system and bring us into their visual range." Shepard commanded with a firm voice.
"Aye Aye, Commander." Joker fired up the engine and started bringing the Normandy into their view. Shepard stared out the bridge, waiting for the Alliance Dreadnought to come into view. The few minutes waiting felt like hours. The bridge was silent with the hum of the engines in the background. Finally the Alliance dreadnought came into view, painted on its side was 'SSV Orizaba'.
"That name sounds familiar…" Shepard thought to himself.
SSV Orizaba – Bridge
"Rear Admiral Hawke, there is an unidentified frigate in visual range."
"Where did it come from, Crook?" Hawke requested.
"It just appeared, Sir."
"A ship doesn't just appear out of nowhere."
"Normandy-class ships do." Injected the OX.
"Are there any other Alliance ships in the system, Crook?" Hawke asked. After a few moments of rapid reading off Crook's screen he turned back to the Rear Admiral and XO. "No, Sir. We are the only Alliance ship in the system."
"What its IFF reading, Crook?"
"Its IFF is reading Cerberus, Ma'am." A look of confusion came over Crook's face "Sir, visual data banks are showing that the frigate is the SSV Normandy." The same look of confusion came over the Rear Admiral's and OX's face as they stared at Crook's monitor. "I thought it was destroyed two years ago."
"It was. My son died on it." Replied the XO.
"Are you sure this is right, Crook?"
"It's not a 100% match Sir, But it's has a very strong resemblance to the SSV Normandy."
"Open a communication channel to the ship, Crook."
"Aye Aye, Sir."
Normandy SR-2 – Bridge
Shepard and Joker continued to stare at the giant ship waiting for anything to happen. EDI appeared "Shepard, the SSV Orizaba is trying to open up a communication with us."
"Open up the channel EDI."
"Yes commander." A holographic display of Admiral Hawke comes into view in front of Shepard and Joker.
"This is Rear Admiral Hawke of the SSV Orizaba. We have identified your ship as Cerberus. Verify why you are in this system." As Hawke finished, his XO's face was overcome with disbelief with what she saw.
"Jack, is that you?" she asked.
"Yes Mom, it's me." He replied.
A/N The idea came to me when I realized there are not many stories about Shepard's and his mother's relationship
Also thanks to SergiusTheGreat for beta reading this story, your awesome man
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