A/N: I've been sitting on this for a while, and in light of tumblr user omegastation's Mass Effect AU week I thought it was appropriate to finally post it! On tumblr there was a lot of discussion regarding 'AU in which Cerberus pulls a Winter Soldier and Kai Leng is Kaidan you left on Virmire', but this post (/post/104259970185) by tumblr user krempuffs made me think what if Shepard had been the Winter Soldier instead? And alas, The Winter Spectre was born!

As the description suggests, this fic is a total AU post-ME1. There is a major stray from ME1 canon too, as the description suggests. It will also draw inspiration from Winter Soldier storyline in the MCU (both The Winter Soldier and Civil War... minus the Avengers stuff)

So thank you for giving my total crack AU/somewhat crossover fic a chance, especially after that obnoxious cover art (my hand slipped while I was using Photoshop I swear). This is a relatively short chapter to start things off, hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: BioWare owns Mass Effect

Chapter 1

Location unknown, ten months prior

"Can it be done or not?"

"Sir... the modifications you are suggesting are... extensive. Most would argue it is completely inhumane."

"But can you get it done?"

"...yes."

"Good. I'll expect frequent updates. I trust the labs are in order?"

"Of course. Miss Lawson was meticulous, as usual. Have you received any updates from her?"

"Miss Lawson is enroute to her latest project, which is none of your concern. The only thing on your mind should be the task at hand."

"Yes sir. I will set up my equipment and begin work immediately."

"Good. And... make sure you succeed this time."

Present

Kaidan exhaled sharply through his teeth. He did what he always did on sleepless nights like this: he booted up his omni-tool to listen to some old news reports.

17.8.2183 - Breaking news coming from the Omega Nebula. Incoming reports suggest that an Alliance cruiser has been attacked by an unknown vessel in the Amada system. We will keep you updated as details emerge. This has been Emily Wong, FCC News.

18.8.2183 - We can now confirm that the Alliance ship attacked and destroyed yesterday in the Amada system was none other than the SSV Normandy, the ship that was under the authority of Commander Eva Shepard. Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre, led the efforts against rogue Spectre Saren Arterius and played a pivotal role during the Battle of the Citadel. Escape pods from the SSV Normandy have been recovered, but Systems Alliance has dispatched ships to search for remaining escape pods and survivors, including the currently MIA Commander Shepard. As always, we will keep you updated as details emerge. This has been Emily Wong, FCC News.

7.9.2183 - The Systems Alliance released a statement today that after weeks of searching, they have officially declared Commander Eva Shepard, first human Spectre, killed in action. The announcement was met with various reactions, among them protests at the lack of a body. The Council expressed their deepest condolences after the announcement, hailing Commander Shepard as the Saviour of the Citadel, and stated there were plans with the Systems Alliance for a joint funeral and memorial service on the Citadel later this week. This has been Emily Wong, FCC News.

Kaidan shut off his omni-tool and rolled onto his side, trying to bring about sleep that he knew deep down would not come tonight. He didn't know why he still has these news reports saved on his omni-tool, and he didn't know how many times he had listened to them. Somehow the events still didn't seem real to him – as if they were a dream, as if everything that happened since then didn't. Even if though it'd been almost two years.

"Commander," his comm buzzed. "Apologies for the late hour, but Councillor Anderson is requesting to speak with you."

Kaidan sighed and swung his legs off the side of his too large and too empty bed. "Thank you, Joker. Have EDI patch the call through to my personal console, I'm not in a state for vid comm tonight."

The AI's smooth voice replied instead of Joker's. "Patching him through, Commander."

As he sauntered over to his personal console, narrowly avoiding stubbing his toe on the few short steps to his work area, Kaidan briefly thought back to how he ended up in this situation.

The Citadel, three months prior

"Your former crewmate, Tali'Zorah vas Neema, forwarded this information to me. She said she had been tasked with rescuing a Quarian on his pilgrimage from a recently attacked colony, and thought I would find the data he obtained interesting. She was right. Yet again we find ourselves able to launch a Spectre mission from evidence provided by Miss Tali'Zorah."

Kaidan nodded, ignoring the guilt that ebbed at him whenever he heard the names of his old friends. "Tali has always been very resourceful. What was the evidence?"

Anderson reached towards his desk to flick on the console, and footage appeared of dark, insect-like figures placing the colonists in some sort of pods. "Security footage from Freedom's Progress. The perpetrators of these attacks are the Collectors."

"The Collectors? I thought they were a myth!"

"I did too," the human ambassador interjected into their conversation.

Anderson completely ignored Udina and continued. "So did the Council. But this evidence brought to us by Tali'Zorah has helped me to convince the rest of the Council to allow us to send you after the Collectors. They are rightfully worried that the Collectors may branch out onto other species' colonies, and we want to stop the threat before it can take root."

Kaidan gaped. "This is a big mission, Councillor. I don't even have a ship or a crew to my name."

Anderson nodded in response. "It is, Commander. But you won't be doing it alone. Udina found you a sponsor."

"A sponsor?"

"Yes, a sponsor." Udina seemed suddenly excited. "The Systems Alliance is wary of assigning a ship and crew for another Spectre and Council-related mission, after what happened with the Normandy." Kaidan winced at his words, but if Udina noticed he did not show it. "I've found a sponsor who is willing to fund the mission and provide you with a ship and crew. Your team, your squad, is up to you to recruit, but I am sure with all the connections you have made in the past you won't have a problem."

Kaidan considered his options. "Who exactly is this sponsor?"

"He wished his contributions to be anonymous, not wanting any recognition publicly. He has referred to himself only as the Illusive Man." Udina typed something else into the console, and almost immediately Kaidan's omni-tool pinged with a new message. "Take a look at the details when we're done here, including where you are to board your new ship. The Illusive Man has a broad information network and has also stated he will keep you updated with any intel he comes across that may be of use."

He frowned. "This all seems a little suspicious."

"I don't like it either, Alenko," Anderson piped in. "But somebody needs to investigate these colonies and our options are slim. Alliance Brass is standing firm on their position. While the Council is granting you plenty of funding and access to weapons and supplies, the ship and crew would be up to you to get. This 'Illusive Man' is offering a crew and ship with, he claims, no strings attached." Anderson leaned back in his seat. "Besides, I think you might like the ship and some of the crew members aboard."

Normandy SR-2, present

Kaidan reached down and activated his personal console. "Anderson."

Anderson's voice came back weary. "Alenko, apologies for the late hour. I wasn't sure where you were, and at what point in your night cycle it would be. I just wanted an update on the mission, and the people you're picking up to help you."

Kaidan wasn't convinced – the man would never contact him during off-hours if it weren't important. But for now, Kaidan proceeded to update him anyway.

"I have thus far been collecting intel and recruiting squad members for the mission. The Collectors haven't hit a colony since Freedom's Progress, and they're very much ghosts – nobody knows much about them."

"You pick up any interesting people?"

He cleared his throat. "At the suggestion of Miranda Lawson, the Normandy's XO provided by the Illusive Man, we picked up Dr. Mordin Solus, a brilliant Salarian scientist. He is developing an anti-dote for the Collector seeker swarms, among other research. I also enlisted the help of my old friends Garrus Vakarian and Tali'Zorah vas Neema. Other than that, I have recruited experts of various fields; a tech-expert, a veteran, and an Asari Justicar to name a few."

He left out some of the details, of course. He didn't want to mention that Thane was an assassin, Zaeed a mercenary, Jack a former criminal, and Kasumi a master thief. They'd so far earned his respect – and to an extent trust – by being extremely loyal and powerful allies.

Kaidan took a deep breath before continuing. "I sought out Urdnot Wrex and Dr. Liara T'Soni, but they both could not join me. Dr. T'Soni has promised to send me useful intel she comes across, while Urdnot Wrex insisted he needed to stay on Tuchanka. He suggested I seek out the Krogan Warlord and scientist Okeer."

He bit his tongue, again leaving out some details. Okeer had not actually joined the Normandy crew, because he'd been killed before they could extract him from the merc base. Instead, he left them with his genetically engineered krogan, who had chosen the name Grunt.

"As long as you can trust them and they have your back, Alenko."

"With all due respect, sir, I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me."

The reply was hesitant. "This isn't a secure channel, son. But something is fishy. All I can tell you right now is don't trust everything immediately."

Kaidan was taken aback. "Sir?"

"That's all for now." Anderson's voice seemed to shift in tone. "I also wanted to let you know that the Council is considering opening another Spectre position to a human. Eventually we will want you to evaluate our candidate, but for now your mission takes priority."

"But that's excellent news!"

Kaidan let out a sigh of relief; he'd been a Spectre for almost a year, but he was already tired of the bureaucratic responsibilities that came with being humanity's only Spectre. How did She ever deal with it when She was the only one? He thought maybe another human Spectre could take away some of his burden.

"Who is the candidate?"

"Your former squadmate, First Lieutenant Ashley Williams."