A/N: This is an alternate universe look at a possible ending to the Reaper war. In this story, Cmdr. Shepard timed the destruction of the mass relay to coincide precisely with the arrival of the Reaper fleet, destroying a large portion of it. Faced with overwhelming evidence of the Reapers existence, the system's alliance reinstates and promotes the commander and sent her off in the Normandy with the objective of establishing and a system of alliances to combat the Reaper threat. After the successful negotiation of a system of alliances uniting the Geth, Quarians, Turians, Asari, and Krogans, Shepard has been recalled to the Citadel by the Citadel Council. This success did not come without price however; the Mars beacon was never fully decrypted, since resources were thrown so hastily into the war effort. The Crucible designs, blueprints to a superweapon capable of targeting and destroying all Reaper forces, were never discovered, Leaving one way to victory for the united races of the galaxy. Through conventional methods.
Once more, Shepard stood before the entire Citadel Council in the heart of the stations Presidium. It had been almost 6 months since the destruction of the Bahak system. There she timed the destruction of a mass relay to coincide with the arrival of the Reaper fleet. "
Countless numbers of the millennia old machines were destroyed. Their abundant remains left little doubt the galaxy's mind. The Reapers were real. As colonies from the outskirts of the galaxies slowly disappeared, it was clear that there was still more left. Since then, a newly reinstated Shepard had taken the Normandy from one side of the Milky Way to another, preparing the galaxy for the Reapers.
She'd done everything from cure the Krogan genophage, to peacefully resolving the 300 year long Morning War between the Quarians and their Geth creations. By their return to Council space, most of Shepard's team had left the Normandy. Shepherd was incredibly thankful that Liara had stayed with her, bringing her extensive information network along. She served amicably as the ship's unofficial executive officer.
Sometimes Shepard thought the Asari was the only thing keeping her sane.
"Admiral Shepard." Tevos spoke from her podium. Shepherd sighed. She disliked the title. It was only issued to her as a formality, to allow her to carry out her missions and establish agreements between races with minimal oversight. To tell the truth, she'd gotten used to commander.
"The Council has reviewed your actions as well as the situation we find ourselves in. You and your crew are currently the only forces in the galaxy with extensive combat experience against Reaper forces. Your ship, and your crew have personally seen to the destruction of half a dozen Reapers in combat, as well as the devastation of their main fleet in the Bahak system."
Shepard fidgeted uncomfortably. She always got nervous when someone, especially a politician, started rattling off a list for accomplishments. Doubly so when they left out the negative parts. If she was lucky, they just called her here to formally thank her. If she was unlucky, they called her here to give her an award. If she was really unlucky, they called for here to name a medal after her. No matter what, she didn't see a way getting out of here without having to make a speech.
"In addition, your actions to prepare the galaxy for the coming threat have resulted in the largest collective military force in galactic history. As such, we hereby bestow upon you the newly created rank of commander of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance division of the Citadel Council."
Shepherd had been wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong. She wished it were just naming a medal after now.
"This position gives you not only immunity from any authority except this Council's, but also grants you command over the military forces of any affiliated race, including the SpecTRe division. You have acted with the utmost integrity in the past, and have been our greatest weapon against the Reaper threat. We can think of none more suited to this position, to lead us to victory."
Shepard scanned the faces of the councilors. Tevos and Udina both looked as politicians of their stations should. Impassive. Quentius, who had replaced Sparatus after Bahak, looked hopeful, contrasting with Valern's sour expression. Shepherd briefly thought that if she hadn't saved his life, he probably would've had her drummed out of the SpecTRe program for her actions on Tuchunka.
"It would be an honor, councilor." Shepard declared, inclining her head slightly.
"I was just getting used to Commander too." Shepard recalled telling Liara after the promotion. Why in hell did I open my mouth?
Three days later, Shepard was still alive, though she wasn't sure how. If it was possible to die from an overload of paperwork, then she'd slipped off sometime last night and hell looked exactly like the inside of her cabin. And the reports, forms, and requests still kept coming. To say nothing of the fan mail.
She didn't notice the door slide open and close, being absorbed in her work as she was.
She checked her mail, hoping for a distraction, only to discover 82 more forms requesting her immediate attention. Shepherd let out an anguished scream.
"If only the Reapers knew about your true weakness." Liara chuckled from behind her. Shepard turned, eager for a reason to abandon her workload, and leaned back in her chair.
"The fleets I have to get familiar with, and whose actions I have to direct. Not to mention I have to formulate a working battle strategy that will stand up to combat with Reapers. I'm not even sure why they gave the job to me." Shepard sighed heavily. "I'm a SpecTRe, a former Marine sniper attached to the engineering corps, and a N7." What qualifies me for this?"
"Perhaps one of the councilors for about your maneuver at the battle of Tanaab?" Liara asked, chuckling as she moved to sit on the couch in the slight depression below Shepard's workspace.
Shepard joined her, and together they sat quietly looking out of the transparent aluminum square in the ceiling watching the Doppler effect intersect with the mass effect in a stunning light around the ship's hull.