Chapter one.
It had all happened so fast. A choice had to be made. It wasn't an easy choice to make but there was no time, the planet was set to blow up at any moment and there was little time for thinking or planning. No, the Commander had to make a choice and fast. In his heart he had wanted to save the one he loved, but his mind told him that he had to stay and defeat the Turian, Saren no matter what. If he left to save Ashley then that would have left Kaidan to deal with Saren and the bombs at the same time. An impossible feat for just one man.
They needed those bombs to go off, Kaidan had already triggered the nuke but it could still be disarmed. They needed to blow up Saren's base of operations in order to prevent the Reapers from returning. That was their mission. They had to succeed no matter what.
Did he leave Ashley and her unit to their death against the Geth that were attacking them? Or did he save them and fail the mission, leaving Kaidan and his group to the hands of Saren?
Shepard knew he had to stay and fight the ex-Spectre in order to save the whole galaxy. Either option meant he would have to sacrifice one of his best friends to their deaths. The only thing that shifted his weight on making a decision was the one simple fact; no matter how many people died here now, it would be nothing compared to how many would die if this mission failed and the Reapers returned.
Knowing this, he made his choice. The sacrifice of the few to save the lives of the many. This was not just about one small group of people who knew the risks. This was about the whole galaxy as they knew it. Every race was depending on him now.
"It's done, Commander. Go get Williams and get the hell out of here!" Kaidan Alenko said through the transmitter.
Ashley on the other hand was against the idea. Geth or no, she wasn't going down without a fight and she called down the transmitter from her end with a stern tone to the man who was on the other end, "Screw that! We can handle ourselves. Go back and get Alenko."
Lifting a shaky hand to his head, Shepard spoke with a firm tone down the transmitter, "Alenko, radio Joker and tell him to meet us at the bomb site." He shook his head, feeling sorrow for the choice he was making.
"Yes, Commander. I..." Kaidan stuttered down the transmitter to, Shepard. He knew just how hard a choice this was for his friend to make.
"You know it's the right choice, LT." Ashley said firmly again. She was willing to make this sacrifice and Shepard knew it. It was one of the reasons he loved her so much.
"Hold on tight Ash. I'll be coming to get you next." Shepard said softly, though he knew in his heart that there was very little chance of there being enough time to save them both.
Ashley confirmed his doubts. "We both know that's not going to happen, Skipper."
"I... I'm so sorry, Ash." Shepard said softly again, his hand still shaking.
"Me too, Skipper. Take care of him for me, LT." She spoke with a brave tone, though Shepard could tell there was more behind that bravado she put on. He wanted to hold her but he had a job to do and he needed to move, now.