Author's Note: Mass Effect and all its characters are the property of BioWare. This isn't based solely on my F!Shep, it simply suits her personality.


As the eclectic group made its way through the Wards, Tali cleared her throat. "Commander, I don't understand. Aren't you supposed to meet with your ambassador, to receive a ship for your mission against Saren?"

Ashley snorted in disgust. "I'd rather have nothing to do with that arrogant son of a..."

"Chief," Shepard warned, her tone clear.

"Sorry, Commander, but you know how I feel about politicians."

Shepard nodded as Kaidan chuckled. "Yeah, you made that pretty clear back in the embassy," he said.

"I agree. Politicians are all talk and no use," Wrex huffed, tired of glaring at random bystanders.

"They're always wrapping our jobs up in so much red tape, it's a miracle I can see any other colors at all anymore," Garrus agreed.

Tali started wringing her hands. "I understand that sentiment, but... your own ship..."

Shepard couldn't help but smile. She rested a hand on Tali's shoulder to help ease her nerves. "I admit I'm intrigued to get a ship, and to see which one we're assigned, but I don't care all that much for Ambassador Udina. I recognize that maybe his methods are more acceptable in the political arena, but I'm an Alliance officer, and I operate in a vastly different manner."

"Yeah, Skipper, but you also don't work like any of the officers I've served under," Ashley commented, sidestepping a pair of salarians who were in deep conversation.

"I like to think I've got my own unique style of command," Shepard replied with a laugh. "It keeps things interesting, and I've noticed that people seem to work a lot better together if they actually know one another, instead of just being acquaintances."

"Huh," Garrus said, "I wonder how well that'll work with this team you're assembling now. A turian working with a krogan? A quarian being allowed onto a human ship?"

"Hey!" Tali was not amused by Garrus's implications. "What makes you think I can't contribute to this team? And who said anything about it being a human vessel? Commander Shepard works for the Council now, not just the Alliance."

"True, but it's the human ambassador making the arrangements. Do you honestly think he'll choose a turian or asari ship for something this important?"

Wrex chuckled. "I'm starting to like you, turian. Your cynicism does you credit."

"Personally, I'm just starting to wonder how many of these little 'errands' we're going to end up running, Commander."

Shepard chuckled. "What's wrong, Alenko, you don't think we should be playing nice with the locals?"

"I understand the idea behind all this, Commander, it's just... Saren's still out there."

Shepard nodded, her smile vanishing. "Yes, that's true. But I can't just be the Council's newest plaything to go out and retrieve a broken tool. We need the Council races to see humanity being willing to get involved in galactic matters, even the trivial ones." Her conviction was readily evident in the tone of her voice.

A brief silence fell over the group as they considered the implications of her statement.

She chuckled again. "But for the moment, thankfully, winning the hearts and minds of the Council races means taking on a far easier mission than scouring the galaxy for a rogue Spectre."

"What mission would that be?" Tali asked.

There was a collection of groans and laughter at Shepard's response: "Shopping."