Captain Jane Shepard, SSV Perugia, Sol System, Saturn Orbit

"Something is off," Jane grumbled as she dropped her chin onto her left fist. The rest of the bridge crew tried to ignore the captain's sloppy posture, as she sat sprawled, drumming the fingers of her right hand on the arm of her command chair. "It's annoying the crap out of me, and I don't know what it is."

"Captain," the ship's XO, Commander Tyrone Totes, called as he swiveled his seat around. "Engineering reports the drive core fully discharged. We may proceed at your command."

"About fucking time," Jane muttered, sitting up in her seat and adjusting her uniform jacket. "Mr. Garcia, please get us the f-"

"Captain!" Ensign Maiara Eleanor, the comms officer, called out. "We are getting a priority call from Admiral Hackett."

Jane blinked at the girl for a second before shaking her head with a disgusted look. "Got to be kidding me…" Jane paused a moment and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Is it a direct call?"

"No, ma'am," Eleanor shook her head. "Apparently he is on a shuttle and coming here. And…" the girl paused a moment before nodding. "Yes...yes….will do...yes…." Eleanor continued to nod as she spoke with the other end of her line. She's going to nod her head right off her body, Jane thought to herself, pushing down her irritation.

With a final nod, Eleanor looked back up at her Captain. "Sorry, ma'am. We are being told to hold station. The Admiral wants to speak with you privately."

Jane's eyes widened slightly as she turned and looked out the forward view port. "Well, that is more than a bit ominous," Jane sighed as she stood. "Bridge is yours Totes. Try to make sure we don't fall into the planet, hmm?"

"I will see what I can do, Captain," Totes nodded as he moved to the command dias.

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Jane moved to the lift, her face creased with a frown.


Captain Hannah Shepard, SSV Orizaba, Citadel

"Taking up station four degrees off the Destiny Ascension," the Orizaba's flight commander, Edward Kikkoman, announced.

"Very good Commander," Hannah Shepard nodded as she stood and smoothed out her uniform. "The bridge is yours."

Kikkoman nodded as Hannah stepped onto the lift and sending it to the crew deck. Worry ate at her. What could be so important that Anderson was coming to speak with her directly? They had been friends for a long time, but he was the human Councilor now.

As the doors to the lift opened, Hannah was already striding purposefully through them and down the hall to her stateroom. It was one of the perks of commanding an Everest class dreadnought. Truth be told, Hannah always thought it was a waste of valuable space, but Anderson had pointed out that a command ship of the Orizaba's stature had need of place to speak with VIPs. And now she was stalling. Trying to distract herself from her anxiety. It wasn't working very well.

Then Hannah realized she had been standing outside the door for nearly a minute.

Taking a deep breath, Hannah hit the button that opened the door and stepped inside.


Kelly Shepard, Mindior, Shepard Family Farm

"Dad!" Kelly called as she entered the house like she went everywhere. Like a small tornado. Her coat was thrown haphazardly, in the general direction of the coat hook. One of her shoes almost made it to the shoe rack. The other barely made it inside the house. As Kelly moved through hall into the living room, her backpack bounced off the couch to land on the floor, while the N7 hoodie her brother had given her was draped over the stair's banister.

"Dad!" Kelly called out again with a frown. Her father, Hestalia Shepard, had messaged her to come home immediately, and that it was important. He never did that unless it really was. Kelly had seen an extra car in the dive, so somebody must be visiting. Is Johnny here? She thought excitedly. Normally he told her when he was coming to visit, but maybe, this time he was going to surprise her?

"Kelly," her father stepped out of the kitchen. Kelly skidded to a halt as she looked into her father's face. "Kelly, come, we have to talk to you."

Swallowing, Kelly nodded and followed her father back into the kitchen area. It was a good sized kitchen, Hestalia, her asari father, had designed it. He loved to cook and had always dreamed of having a large kitchen for his family. But now, Kelly's human mother, Hannah sat at the big dinner table, holding a mug of coffee in her hands. On the other side of the table, Kelly's human sister, Jane stood straight, from where she had been leaning on the wall. Both the women were pale, and had dark circles under their bloodshot eyes. They had been crying….

They didn't get to use it as a full family very often. Maybe once a year, but those were the best times in Kelly's life. Until now.


Zaeed Massani, Korbalick Station, Terminus

The comm beeped again, it's harsh trill splitting Zaeed's head open with each ring. Groaning, the broad, scarred man sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He had been drinking a bit more than he probably should have….

The comm beeped again, making Zaeed wince, even as the body behind him began to twist under the blankets of the bed. "Zaeed?" the female batarian mumbled. "Are you going to get that?"

The comm beeped again, as Zaeed nodded, a hand running over his face before glancing at the incoming call identifier. "Shit…." he muttered as his eyes shot open. "Jullua, you need to go. Now."

"What?" the female, Jullua turned, startled. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, you need to get the fuck out," Zaeed growled. "This is important. Take the credit chit on the table."

"O-okay…" Jullua mumbled as she quickly pulled on what little clothing a woman in her line of work wore. "Will...um...will you be calling for me later?"

The comm beeped again. "Doubt it. Now get out!" Zaeed threw the female a dark glare that made her recoil. He continued to stare at her as she fumbled for the credit chit and exited the small apartment Zaeed had rented.

"Alright now…." Taking a deep breath, Zaeed let it out in a rush as he reached over to take the call. But his hand froze over the button. Why the hell is she calling, he thought furiously. She couldn't need anything I have to give her. Not now. Not anymore….

The comm beeped again. "Fuck it…" Zaeed muttered, accepting the call. "What do you want?" he spoke gruffly. He was trying to bluff. Trying to seem like he didn't care. He knew he was making a bollocks of it.

"He's dead, Zaeed," Hannah spoke quietly. "They took our boy."