Prologue: 2183, the Citadel, Hudson Studios.

"Look Al," Alan all but yelled at his chief producer. "I know the SPECTRE's don't go in for the sort of guns blazing mayhem they used to, but can you at least find something a bit more interesting than a training course on forensic accounting for the next episode? The FCC execs are going to pull the plug if we can't. And no I don't care have to make something up."

"Got it, Alan." Al replied. "There's a human SPECTRE, name of Shepard. Used to be an actor, but went into the Alliance Marines a few years before the Skyllian Blitz. He won the Star of Terra there, holding off a whole regiment of Batarian mercenaries and slavers single-handedly. Passed the N7 training course, got headhunted by the SPECTRE's a couple of years later. He just finished a six month hunt for the Shadow Broker. As you'd imagine, he didn't see hide or hair of the guy, but he must have got through at least two layers of security to get where he did, looking by the number of agents he brought in. He even fished a couple up on the Citadel, if you can believe that; three low-level confidential aides in the Presidium, and the bartender from Chora's Den. All selling information to the Shadow broker."

"Sounds like our guy. How soon can you get hold of him?"

"I don't know. Last report I got, said he was heading to Eden Prime, looking for some Prothean beacon that has apparently been unearthed. He's got another SPECTRE with him for backup, a Turian named Nihlus. Nihlus recruited him, and they've worked together regularly ever since. Not quite sure which of them is in charge any more, but apparently they've had more than a couple of enthusiastic nights out in the Wards since Shepard was recruited."

"That Saren chap you had on last week. Do you think he's still available for a hustle-up job?"

"Well, he's a couple of years away from a desk job back on the Citadel, and I guess he could see the merits of encouraging public interest in providing more funding. I'll com the Normandy, get Shepard and Nihlus on the line, since if they're up for a little bit of acting. Could you get onto the Quarians, and ask if they've got any of those Geth robots of theirs available?"

"Will do. Citadel out."