At War's End: Restarting After Synthesis
Author's Notes: This chapter is all about the immediate situation after Shepard launched the Synthesis solution from the Crucible. It may seem centered on Ashley, but that's only because she's in charge. The meat of the actual story focuses on Tali.
Chapter 1: Getting back on their feet
After the flashes of green were gone, it took the crew of the Normandy some time to regain their bearing from the crash. They all felt noticeably different, but no one could put a finger on exactly what it was.
Dazed but with a sense of urgency, Ashley piped up over the intercom, "We need to get a handle on our situation. First things first, I want accountability of the crew. Then we need to go do some recon. Sensors are down, so we are flying blind until we can get some repairs done. I want any healthy tech personal at their stations as soon as possible. We need damage control reports ASAP." No one disagreed or argued with her and everyone immediately started to scramble to make sure the remaining crewmen were alright. Being the Executive Officer of the Normandy, command fell to her by default in Shepard's absence.
Starting from the bottom up, Ashley and Dr Chakwas went from deck to deck of the Normandy to get a grasp on injuries and casualties. In the shuttle bay, Vega was tending to the weapons, as they did not know what planet they were on and would likely need them for recon. Cortez was doing some patchwork on the Kodiak shuttle. It took more than a few bumps and bruises from the crash during the last push of the battle.
On the engineering deck, Diana Allers was helping Adams splint a broken leg for Javik. "This injury is nothing. I was more than prepared to lay down my life in order to stop the Reapers." he said. The vengeful ancient seemed to more engrossed with their victory than the fact that his leg was broken in three places. He was actually smiling for the first time since being awakened from cryogenic stasis.
"Adams, have you seen the other engineers?" Ashley called over his shoulder.
He replied, "Tali went up to the med bay to get some dextro medi gel. I haven't seen Donnelly and Daniels since before we hit the last relay, ma'am." Ashley immediately knew where they were and what they were doing… She figured she would at least give them a little privacy, considering what they had all just gone through.
On the crew deck, Liara was bandaging a nasty gash on her arm. Dr. Chakwas immediately went over to help her. Garrus was in the main battery mumbling to himself about all the damage to such fine weapons as their Thanix cannons and but seemed to perk up when he realized how long the calibrations would take after getting them fixed. Tali was in the med bay patching a small suit rupture.
On the command deck, Traynor was doing everything she could to get the comm system back up and running. Liara had sent Glyph to assist her since she was taking the deaths of the navigations crew pretty hard. Private Campbell and Ensign Copeland were in the war room lining up fallen shipmates.
"Ma'am, there was an explosion in here. No one inside the war room survived." said Private Campbell. Ashley could see the tears streaming down her cheek.
Ashley looked around at the damage. "Where is your partner, private? Bethany isn't under all…"
Campbell cut her off, "Westmoreland is in the head. She started vomiting as soon as she caught a whiff of burning flesh. She's shaken up pretty bad, but she's alive, ma'am."
Ashley breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that's definitely good to hear. And don't worry. Once we are situated, we'll make sure all our shipmates get a proper burial."
EDI was in the cockpit running scans of Joker to make sure he was okay. He was out cold, but breathing. "Commander Williams. I have taken some unusual readings on Joker" she said. Ashley raised an eyebrow and walked closer.
"What is it EDI? Trouble?" Ashley asked with concern showing through her voice.
"Quite the opposite, commander. Given the force we crashed at, Joker's bones should have all been broken and he should be dead. However, he is merely unconscious." A hint of gleeful surprise hit Ashley's face. "That is not all, commander. There seems to be a very faint glow running in lines that are emitting an ultra-low frequency pulse of an as of yet unidentifiable energy along his entire body."
That caught Ashley's attention. After hearing EDI say that, Ashley immediately noticed that the same faint lines were running along EDI's body as well. She looked down at her hand through her torn glove and saw that these same lines were on her as well. Ashley's leadership training shone through her confusion. "We can deal with that later. For now, we need to get as much of the ship up and running as possible and find out where we are". EDI nodded and picked up Jeff's limp body and lay him in a recovery position on his side. She then proceeded to interface with the ship's systems to get repairs started.
After a few hours of diligent scrambling, the reports from all sections were in. 80% of ship function was restored, and recon of the immediate area around the ship showed that the planet they landed on was very hospitable to life. The casualty count, however, was staggering. Only eighteen of crew's total of fifty members had survived, and Commander Shepard never returned from the Crucible. Ashley called all remaining crewmen to the CIC.
She stood in front of everyone and spoke. "I know things look grim. We're all but stranded on who knows where, but I'm proud that you all busted your hump to get so much done in such a short time. I think this goes without saying it, but you all know that since so few of us are left, that we'll have to work together to get through this."
"Pardon me, commander". Glyph chimed in. "I would like to inform you that my automated repair of the primary comm system is now complete. Repair of the Quantum Entanglement system's GUI interface is currently at 50%. Also, upon EDI's request to do so after repairs were complete, I have sent out a distress call." No sooner than Glyph could finish the statement did the comm immediately flash with a hail. The group all cheered.
Traynor got to her comm terminal to answer the hail. "Normandy SR-2, this is Matriarch Lidanya hailing from Asari fleet flagship dreadnought Destiny Ascension. Do you copy? I repeat, Normandy SR-2 this is flagship Destiny Ascension. Are you receiving this transmission?"
"Matriarch Lidanya, this is Comm Specialist Samantha Traynor aboard the Normandy. Be advised, we are down. Multiple casualties and injuries. Repairs underway, but we do not have propulsion and nav systems are still out. Can you track and pinpoint our location?"
"Good to see you have survivors, Normandy! Our nav triangulation read out puts you at Eden Prime on the far southern continent. Rescue efforts seem unnecessary since it is a colony world, but are also impossible at this time. Satellite images show that every mass relay has suffered extensive damage, some even destroyed."
While everyone was tense at that revelation, they all understood that they would be fine given they landed on a colony world. Ashley stepped up and took over the comm. "Matriarch Lidanya, this is acting commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams. We thank you for the info. Please pass on to any surviving Alliance leadership that we will make contact with the colony government and set up here for the foreseeable future. Normandy SR-2 out."
"Roger that Commander Williams. Goddess grant you luck. Destiny Ascension out."
Having been stationed on Eden Prime before, Ashley felt comfort in the fact that they were stuck there. She turned to the crew and spoke. "If we're on the southern continent, it explains why James and Garrus saw nothing but lush jungle. Eden Prime's government declared this entire continent to be a wildlife refuge. No colonists were allowed to set up down here." Ashley looked over to Traynor. "I want you to open another hailing frequency. The Wildlife Preserve Rangers should have picked up the signal from the last call and will likely be trying to find us." Samantha got to it right away and Ashley turned to the rest of the crew. "Everyone get packed. We'll likely be leaving shortly. EDI, I want you and Glyph to stay aboard the Normandy and continue repairs until we can coordinate a pick up. Alright everyone, dismissed."
The crew dispersed and went about gathering their things and finishing up what work they had begun. Minutes later, Traynor got word from the Wildlife Preserve Ranger sergeant on duty that there was help on the way.