The first full session of the Council since Admiral Dugall had failed to report in, needless to say the assembled leaders didn't know what to think. Even though Gerard left with some of the finest equipment and men the United Earth Directorate could provide, he still failed to complete his mission. Hell, he even failed to make it home.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Enclave. We gather under the gravest of news."

The Lord Magistrate of the Council. Always one for showmanship and drama. I would never admit it where anyone could hear it, but he has something of a point, without the fleet and men Gerard Dugall left with I am somewhat…..weaker than I should have been. Or at least my fleets are.

"The mission of Admiral Dugall has been a tragic failure. Many of you saw the news reports of our forces capturing the Overmind, while that did in-fact occur, it seems that the enemy we defeated was not so easily slain, and our victory, not so easily held."

I wasn't as surprised as the Politicians where, then again, I had read the reports. The compressed databurst from the DSS Aleksander listing the overwhelming force of protoss, the unending Zerg Swarm… The Queen of Blades…. I visibly shudder and almost jump when a heavy metal hand gently grips my shoulder.

"You okay Erikka?"

I fondly grip the hand before shoving it off my uniform. "I'm fine James, just thinking about the data on her." I frown slightly at his mildly confused look. "Her majesty." I say, stressing the last word somewhat sarcastically. "And you know how I feel about Him." I frown and tap the small circular device set into my skull over my left ear.

"Oh." He shakes his head and pats my shoulder again, wandering back to his pace at the door with the heavy thumps I have come to associate with the SFPA suits all the soldiers wear in this day and age.

I turn my attention back to the Grand meeting hall of the Council, pausing a moment to take in the sheer size of the place before absently watching the Lord Magistrate drone on about rebuilding our Fleets and burning the alien scourge from existence. Why did he want me here? Sure I am the Commander of the Fleets but I take my orders from the Council. I don't make any decisions about where I go with their fleets outside of wartime combat operations. I am just a soldier….

"I present Errika Shepard, Commander of the Directorate Fleets." I jerk back to the present with an almost audible 'THUNK!'

I Salute the Magistrate smartly, my heels clicking together as I come to attention. "My Lord Magistrate. It is an honor, as always."

He dismisses my salute with an almost imperious wave of his hand. "You have no idea why you are here do you Commander Shepard?"

I shake my head slightly, decades of military training keeping my expression blank and my overwhelming hate of the man in check. "No Lord Magistrate, though given your topic to this point I would assume it has something to do with our wayward colonies?"

"You are half right." He turned to the rest of the Councilors. "Errika has volunteered to personally oversee the retrofits of our fleets, and make them capable of filling that war torn disgrace to humanity!" The Magistrate takes a deep breath to calm himself. "That sector of space with ash. Her mission is to make sure not even bacteria survive, Commander Shepard has volunteered on a campaign of genocide against criminals and alien SCUM!" I stepped back from the platform mildly sick to my stomach as the council chamber erupted into cheers, the Magistrate looked down at me from his platform and tapped the left side of his head, leering cruelly at me. "Commander, you are dismissed. The council will fund you any resources you need."

I turn to James the other marine with him. "Vega. Jenkins. We are leaving." Jenkins looks slightly confused by the exchange and James…. James sealed his visor. I couldn't see his face, let him now I needed him more than ever. My heart sank as I walked out of the doors flanked by the three meter tall marines, knowing I was trapped in my own personal hell.

"Greetings Captain! I am Adjunct-80TE. I was ordered by the Commander to provide you with equipment specifications and other information as necessary. Currently I have information on the SFPA Combat Exoskeleton. SFPA, Short for Sirta Foundation Powered Armor this suit was eventually developed to replace the horribly outdated Combat Hardskins that have remained in service since the founding of the United Earth Directorate. Most of the designs of the SFPA incorporate designs from the 'Terran' CMC power armor encountered by Admiral Gerard Dugall in his campaign to bring our wayward colonies back under earth control and to asses the threat of the Protoss and Zerg, as well as some rather inventive new technologies that make the SFPA a force to reckon with on the battlefield.

Most of the suit is covered in three centimeters of ship grade armor plating, while the exposed servos and internal workings on the arms and legs have been moved to the inside. This gives the Suit a less industrial appearance.

Using the 'Defense Matrix' of the outdated Research vessels Sirta Foundation has incorporated a small shield into the armor. The power requirements make this technology impractical in anything smaller than armored vehicles. That said, infantry can carry a mobile generator and shield pylon array that can be used to power the shields of the SFPA indefinitely. It is to be noted that without these generators or arrays the suit does not have the ability or form or maintain its shield and must rely on its armor plate…..and chest high walls.

In addition to being sealed against Bio, Chemical, Nuclear, and Hard Vacuum, the suit enhances the strength of the operator roughly 36 times, with a soft load cap at 3.5 imperial tons.

Logging you out Captain."