A.N: Here is chapter 2 of F.H. this one is longer than the first. longer A.N. at the bottom. enjoy
Mass Effect belongs to Bioware and Electronic Arts.
Chapter 2
"You want me to do what!" Shepard shouted to the turian councilor, not caring about etiquette right now after what they just asked of him.
"Calm yourself, Captain and try to remember where you are" the krogan councilor spoke softly as would one to a child, "know that this is a great burden that we ask of you."
'No shit' Shepard thought trying to regain his composure, it also didn't help that the turian councilor was still standing over him. "What you are asking is impossible." The moment the words left his mouth all of the councilors stared at him, making Shepard even more uncomfortable than he already was. "Why do you say that Captain?" one of the councilors said.
"The journey alone is impossible; it would be years if not more to reach the Andromeda galaxy even with the new Mrk. 12 drive core. There is also the size of the fleet which is going to be a logistical nightmare to organize. How many military or civilian ships are going and is this going to be a military or civilian op." Shepard stopped for a breather before continuing.
"Retrofitting the ships for travel across dark space is going to cost you financially. Then there is the crew who are signing up for a one-way trip, you're asking everyone of this fleet to leave behind everything that they know and everyone they love for what could be a suicide run." Shepard's voice growing louder as he continued. "Not to mention this whole plan rests on a transmission that is so scrambled we don't know even know what we're walking into. The people who sent this S.O.S. could be dead for all we know and we're just there to bury the bodies!"
The turian councilor placed a hand on Shepard's shoulder, "you are a Captain in the Alliance Navy." The turian councilor spoke in a harsh tone while he applied pressure to the wound on his shoulder that still hasn't healed from his last op, Shepard grimaced as pain radiated from his shoulder. "So act like it and show respect to your superiors Captain," the Councilor said as he let go of Shepards shoulder. "You bring up fine points Captain." The turian councilor resumed speaking as he brought up his omni-tool and typed, the holograph in the center of the table changed from the message to display a number of statistics.
"The size of the fleet is going to be quite large. 1,000 ships will be making up the bulk of the fleet," the holographic display changed to show a number of ships, "The number of military and science vessels going is being split evenly." Half of the ships turned red signaling that their military ships, the other half turned green which meant science or civilian ships.
"As for the retro fits, we'll handle that and regarding the personal we will only ask for volunteers. We won't force this on anyone." The councilor spoke just as the holo vanished, "now, before we continue Captain we need to know if you'll accept the position to lead the fleet."
Different thoughts drifted through Shepard's head as he debated whether or not to accept, he was a soldier and he'll do as he's told but the council weren't exactly ordering him to take the position. "I…need to think about it councilors. If that's alright." He told them.
"Of course Captain, know that we expect your answer within 48 hours," the salarian councilor told Shepard as he rose from his chair grabbing his hat.
"You'll have my answer soon enough councilors." Shepard told them as he saluted the councilors and made his way to the entrance of the meeting room which parted revealing Va'alor typing on her data pad.
"Follow me Captain, I'll escort you out," Va'alor told Shepard leading him back the way they came.
Essex Vakarian, the turian councilor looked at the door that Shepard left through and looked back to his fellow councilors. "Are we sure we want him to lead the fleet? He was borderline insubordinate to us, are we sure that's who we want representing us in Andromeda?" he asked his colleagues. The holo projector in the center of the table came to life projecting the image of Captain Marcus Shepard along with his service record.
"He may be rash and needs to learn to keep his emotions in check but he is exactly who we want representing us," Urdnot Mordin, the krogan councilor said as she looked at the image of Shepard, "Enlisted in the Alliance Navy when he turned eighteen along with his sister Helena Shepard, carrying on the Shepard tradition of serving in the military. During his training at Arcturus, Shepard expressed concern that he and his sister were getting favoritism from the instructors."
"Was he right in that regard? That he and his sister were getting favoritism?" The asari councilor, Zela Val'tr asked just when the holo image flickered and died.
"He is right in that regard councilor." A heavily modulated voice spoke through the speakers built into the table. The holo projector came back to life bathing the room in red light, a red spectrum floated in the middle of the room. "All of Commander Shepards children have been treated with favoritism within the Alliance military. A trend that continued until Marcus Shepard and his sister enlisted."
"While his service record is exemplary, I fail to see how he is qualified to lead the relief fleet." Essex asked the Shadow Broker feeling slightly stupid talking to a spectrum.
"Marcus Shepard has proven his ability to lead people, his service in the Terminus Wars and the testimonies from his teammates are proof enough." The Broker said.
"I'm not denying that the Captain has a way with people but in this case we need someone with experience in leading a fleet. Shepard only has experience in captaining the Normandy." Essex spoke knowing that at least some of the councilors had to agree with him, it's not that he hated Shepard but for an operation like this he just felt more comfortable having someone with more experience taking the command position.
"Feel free to select someone else that's your decision but consider all the options before you decide. Do we want a person who blindly follows orders and does what their told, or do we want someone who can adapt to any situation, be it combat or political to represent us to the Initiative?" The Broker said as the transmission cut off along with the red spectrum, in its place was Shepards photo and file. The council sat in silence thinking over the Shadow Brokers words, while what Essex said is true about needing someone with more experience to lead the fleet they couldn't help but read Shepards file in silence.
Some of his achievements are impressive, climbed the ranks through sheer determination while dealing with prejudice because he was a biotic, stepped on some toes climbing through the ranks of the Alliance, qualified for the elite N8 program and graduated from the program while others broke.
Psychological profile states that due to his last name he feels like he has to work twice as hard to "live up to the Shepard name," not afraid to speak his mind especially to his superiors, this caused him to be demoted from Lt. Commander to Lieutenant. Worked his way back up to Lt. Commander.
Very loyal to those under his command, carries out his orders even if he disagrees with them his reasoning being "I'm a soldier, I do what I'm told doesn't mean I have to like it." Promoted to Captain for his role in eliminating Aria T' Loak and her second in command bringing a swift end to the Terminus Wars.
His attitude towards his superiors seems to have worsened after "Operation Queen Killer". All in all, an excellent soldier who has a tendency to speak his mind to his superiors while at the same time following orders, looks out for those under his command, able to make snap decisions in the field and on the fly, also a natural leader based off the testimonies from his squad mates and Alliance Intelligence. "Marcus Shepard has proven time and time again that he can lead a team and inspire others much like his ancestor Commander Jane Shepard even though he hates being compared to her, there is no denying that Marcus Shepard is a born leader despite being a biotic" excerpt from Admiral Johnathan Beckett, Alliance Navy.
"Hmm…I have to agree with the Mordin and the Broker on this one" Zela was the first to speak earning the stares of her colleagues which would have unnerved her if she wasn't a veteran of the Reaper War.
Jor, the salarian councilor while thinking through the facts, "agreed, the captain has remarkable leadership skills. Able to lead his men through the Terminus Wars while suffering only three casualties during the war." Jor folded his hands on the table in front him, looking at his colleagues. "He will be able to keep the civilians and scientists alive should problems arise.
"Regardless of how we feel about Shepard, the decision has been made. Unless he turns down the offer we stick to the original plan." Derek spoke as he placed his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his knuckles.
"What about his sister Helena?" Essex asked as he took a seat.
"She's dead."
Marcus stepped into the elevator, pushing the button for the ground level. The long ride back to the presidium gave him the time to reorganize his thoughts, 'oh shit what do I do, what do I do' the thoughts plagued him all the way down to the presidium. Upon exiting the elevator Shepard decided that he needed to clear his head, he needed a walk, putting back on his hat he headed for the one place that always calmed him.
The cool air of the museum greeted Marcus as he walked through the entrance, saying hi to the receptionist as he walked by. Whenever Marcus needed to clear his head be it from a stressful mission or just life he would always come to the 'History of the Reaper War' section looking at the displays, listen to the audio logs, and watch the footage from 600 years ago of the Reapers. It helped remind that no matter how shitty things got for him things were always worse for other people.
"Records indicate that the Baterians were the first to be attacked by the Reapers even though the Alpha Relay was destroyed by Commander Shepard in early 2186." The info display told him as he walked to another one.
"The Reapers targeted all technological advanced species in the Milky Way but left the other less advanced species alone, supporting Commander Shepards theory that they leave less advanced species alone for them to develop before they are harvested."
"Commander Jane Shepard was the first human spectre and the first to foretell the arrival of the Reapers. Shepards warnings however were ignored while the media smeared her name by calling her crazy and delusional."
"The exact death count from the Reaper War was never conformed, historians and scholars speculate that the number of deaths is somewhere in the hundred trillion mark while others say this death count is too low. At the moment it is impossible is say how many died."
"The Crucible design was originally thought to be Prothean, evidence uncovered by Commander Shepard later proved this was not the case. The Crucible is theorized to have been originally built by the Leviathan species as a way to defeat their construct known as 'Star Child'."
"The Reaper War officially ended on May 13, 2187 at 12:59 A.M. Galactic Standard Time. When Commander Shepard fired the Crucible, the resulting energy blast "killed" the Reapers and their ground forces. The directed energy blast would also target the Mass Relay Network, destroying the relays and the citadel."
One by one Marcus listened to the info displays until he reached the last one, the one he always paid the most attention too.
"Commander Jane Shepard married Major Kaidan Alenko two years after the Reapers defeat and would later give birth to their two daughters Hannah and Ashley Shepard. Jane Shepard retired from the Alliance Navy in 2191, she would live with her husband in Vancouver until their deaths in 2238."
Now some might think that listening to an info display talk about your long dead grandmother is weird and you're right but to Marcus it helped put things into perspective for him. It reminded him that he had to live up to the Shepard name, to do the impossible.
Exiting the museum, Marcus picked a random direction and began walking thinking back to the councils offer. Now that his head was clear he could think more clearly, 'why do they want me to lead the fleet? Sure I have experience in command situations but there are at least other people, higher ranked people with more experience than me.' Marcus was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the person in front of the him until he bumped into them, knocking them both to the ground.
"I'm so sorry." Marcus told person as he helped them up. The figure clearly suggested a woman, getting a better look Marcus saw that she was a quarian. Her brown hair frazzled from the fall, she had a fair complexion, her eyes were a dark purple with light blue at the iris. The design on her forehead was in the shape of an omega symbol with the ends going around the eyes that end at the cheek, this meant that she was married.
"No, it was my fault I was caught up in admiring the statue," her voice slightly flanged. Spotting her hood on the ground Marcus picked it up and handed it back to her. "Thank you, I must go now," the quarian told him as she placed the hood back over her head and walked off disappearing into the crowd.
It wasn't hard to spot the statue that had captivated the quarian it was another memorial dedicated to the Reaper War, Commander Shepard and her crew. Commander Shepard stood in the center with her crew beside her. Garrus Vakarian, Tali'Zorah, Wrex, Liara T'Soni, Kaidan Alenko, even Joker was there along with the rest of the crew.
"Dedicated to Commander Shepard and her crew who stood together against the darkness and emerged victorious." The inscription at the base of the statue said. 'Another reminder of the Shepard legacy' Marcus thought sourly, sometimes he really hated being a Shepard.
Marcus's omni-tool beeped shaking him from his thoughts. His omni-tool came to life as he brought his left arm up, one new message in his inbox.
'Hey kid
Mordin told me about the position they offered you. I'm in Infinity. Come see me.
Wrex.'
Marcus smiled as he read the message, he hadn't seen Wrex in almost fifteen years. 'Wonder what the old man has to say?' Marcus closed his omni-tool after he reading the message now making his way towards the skycar terminal to call a cab. The ride to the wards were quiet for the most part, it didn't take long to reach the wards, after paying the fee Marcus left the cab and started to make his way towards Infinity.
Infinity, a bar that's popular with off duty C-Sec officers. Not exactly Shepards scene, the flashing neon lights and loud music combined was enough to give him a massive headache bordering on a migraine. It wasn't hard to spot Wrex amidst the crowd, he was sitting towards the back nursing a bottle of ryncol while observing the crowd. Playing diplomat for his people didn't diminish his skills as a soldier, Wrex wouldn't have survived 600 years if his skill were lacking. Marcus made his way toward Wrex, weaving through the crowd of drunken C-Sec officers.
Wrex immediately spotted the young Shepard as soon as he walked into Infinity. His Alliance uniform also made him stand out from the regulars in the bar. The young Shepard looked around trying to spot him, eventually he spotted him and began walking in his direction. It's amazing how fifteen years can change a human, the last time Wrex saw the whelp he was just a kid playing with his sister, asking him to tell stories, and now he's a man, a soldier and a leader. 'Just like Jane," Wrex thought as took a swig of ryncol, the purple liquid burning his throat, "Weak shit" Wrex mumbled.
Marcus finally reached Wrex's table just as the old krogan took a drink of ryncol and mumbled something about being 'weak?', taking a seat across from Wrex.
"Cute hat" Wrex said, earning a chuckle from Marcus as he removed his hat and placed it on the table next to him.
"Itches like a motherfucker" Marcus said, running a hand through his short auburn hair trying to emphasize the point which caused Wrex to burst out laughing.
"Jane once said the same thing," Wrex said in between laughs, his got that far away look in his eyes which meant that he was about to tell a tale. "It was after Sovereign got his ass kicked. Jane had to give a speech after Anderson was sworn in as councilor," Wrex told him after he was done laughing. "Afterwards she threw her hat into the trash saying that they 'itch like hell.'" Marcus laughed at the story reminding him of when he was a kid and Wrex would tell him stories of past exploits.
Marcus got a better look at Wrex when he was done laughing. The old krogan hadn't changed much, he had additional scars on his face from what he could see in the low light and the top part of his crest was broken off, giving Wrex a more menacing look but he was still the big ol' softie Marcus knew from his childhood. A softie that could turn your head into a pulpy mess with his shotgun and makes other krogans look weak but a softie when you got to know him.
"So how much did Mordin tell you?" Marcus asked leaning into his seat. Wrex took another drink before speaking.
"Just the basics. An S.O.S. from Andromeda, a relief fleet, and that they want you to lead it." Wrex told him when an asari came by with a tray of drinks.
"Wrex when are going to pay your tab?" the asari asked Wrex as she set the drinks down.
"Talk to Mordin, she'll cover it." Wrex told the asari as he reached for a new bottle of ryncol.
"I did and she said that she'll cover it when you put down your shotgun for good," the asari told him as she left the two alone. Wrex just laughed.
"She knows that when I do, it'll be when I'm dead." Wrex chuckled as he took another drink. Marcus just smiled as he reached for his own, he didn't know what he was drinking other than that is tasted like cheap alcohol and slightly burned his throat as he downed the entire drink in one sitting. "Damn, you must have needed that."
"I did" Marcus told Wrex as he looked at the empty glass and poured himself another drink. "I don't know what to do Wrex. Should I take the offer?" Marcus looked at Wrex as he spoke, hoping for some advice that the old krogan seemed to have in abundance. Wrex looked at the Marcus for a minute before he took another drink.
"Yeah you should, kid" Wrex told Marcus, earning him a look that Wrex had seen many times from his children especially from his firstborn daughter Mordin when he told every male in his clan that unless they wanted to lose their quads very slowly and painfully they would not court his daughter.
"Why should I?" Marcus couldn't believe what Wrex just told him. He was expecting Wrex to tell him not to take the job for whatever reasons and instead he tells him to take the position to lead the fleet, 'why?' he thought to himself.
"You're wasting away here," Wrex said, leaning forward causing the chair to creak under his weight, it also didn't help that he was wearing full combat armor. "Don't think that just because I haven't seen you in fifteen years I haven't noticed." Marcus just listened as Wrex continued. "Stop trying to outdo Jane kid."
Whatever Marcus was about to say died instantly the moment he heard those words. "What…what do mean?" Wrex just sighed.
"I have lived for long time kid. I have seen all of Shepards children try to one up her, don't get me wrong they've all done incredible things on their own but in the end it didn't matter. Jane's exploits casted a shadow on all of her children, that they couldn't emerge from." Wrex told Marcus, "I've seen it many times and I see with you even now. But you're different from the rest."
"How so?" Marcus asked, taking another sip from his drink.
"You're different because you and your sister didn't take handouts like others did before you." Marcus looked at his hat bearing his Captains rank. "You told your instructors to not go easy on you because of your name. That alone makes you alright."
"Which makes me wonder why they even picked me to lead the fleet. Is it because of my achievements that I earned on my own, or is it because I share the same last name as the great Commander Shepard!" Marcus's was shouting now, drawing the attention of nearby patrons. Wrex waited patiently until Marcus calmed down before he spoke again.
"That's why you should take the offer." Wrex told him earning him a confused look from Marcus. "Here, everybody knows the name Shepard and what she did, but over there in Andromeda they don't know her or the things that she did." Marcus took another drink, remaining quiet as he listened to Wrex. "You'd have a fresh start. Away from all this shit, away from all the statues, and reminders of what Jane did all those years ago."
Marcus just sat there thinking over what Wrex said. "I…uh… need to get some sleep." Marcus told Wrex trying to keep the tears in check.
"Sure kid. Think about what I said though." Wrex said as went back to his ryncol. Marcus rose from his chair making to grab his hat from the table and left Infinite, the artificial lights starting to dim signaling nightfall. Making his way back to skycar terminal to get a cab home.
Once again inside the skycar, Marcus undid the top two buttons to his uniform and leaned his head against the glass. The coolness of the glass helped chased away the headache he felt coming on from the alcohol, thankfully the apartment complex where he stays at came into view. After paying the bill, Marcus went immediately to his apartment on the fifth floor making sure to say high to the receptionist and to the security guard on duty. Thankfully the elevators in the apartment building were faster than the ones in the Citadel Tower, exiting the elevator once it reached his floor.
Marcus went straight to his apartment at the end of the hallway and standing in his way was a couple making out, making sure to announce his presence as he passed by them to get them to take their act inside their room which it did. Waving his omni-tool in front of his door which transferred the necessary codes required to unlock it.
Stepping into his apartment that he called home for the past six years, he sighed as everything from today weighed him down. Making sure to turn on the overhead lights so he doesn't bump into anything, he took off his jacket which he draped over a chair in the dining room along with his hat, making his way towards his bedroom to take off his shoes and socks and grabbing his night clothes before stepping into the adjacent bathroom for a quick shower.
The hot water helped ease the tension from his muscles, the water also helped his shoulder wound that the turian councilor put pressure on. Marcus placed his hands on the wall beneath the shower head letting the water hit his back. Marcus thought back to the conversation he had with Wrex, everything he said to him was true. Marcus lost count of how many times he was given a free pass because his last name is Shepard, in basic the instructors took it easy on him and his sister even though they were both biotics, he still remembers pissing off the instructors just to be treated like the other recruits. 'Come to think of it that's where I started mouthing off to my superiors' he thought has he cracked his neck.
In fact, the only way for him to get treated fairly within the Navy was to piss off his superiors that they forgot he was a Shepard, it was the only way to get his CO's to treat him like a soldier and not coddle him.
All those accommodations in his file he earned those through skill and determination along with his rank. Those weren't given to him because of his last name, he made it very clear when he enlisted that he didn't want any freebies just because he's a Shepard.
Marcus's biotics flared in response to his anger coating his body in blue sheen, the change in the mass effect field around Marcus caused the water droplets to float upwards to the ceiling where they remained. He was so caught up anger that he didn't notice right away that his biotics were flaring up due to his anger, but once he did he knew that he needed to calm down or he would break the shower…again. He clenched his hands into fists as he took deep calming breaths allowing him regain control of his biotics which caused the buildup of water on the ceiling to drop on him. Chuckling at his mishap, he turned off the shower and stepped out.
After drying himself and dressing himself in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt after which he commenced his nightly ritual of brushing his teeth. Cleaning the steam from the bathroom mirror he saw that he needed to shave, his five o' clock shadow was on the verge of becoming more than a shadow. Marcus wouldn't call himself a catch, he was just an average guy with an athletic build not overly muscled like some of the marines served with, he had short auburn hair, dark blue eyes, and he also had a scar over his right eye that he earned in the Terminus Wars. The scar started just above his eyebrow and went to the middle of his cheek, curtesy of an omni-blade from Aria T' loak's second in command.
Now that he showered and did his nightly ritual, he was all set and ready for bed. Pulling back the sheets he laid down, pulling the sheets over him and closed his eyes falling asleep. The nightmares came as they usually did when he slept.
The smell of rotting corpses was think in the air, bodies lined the street lying where they fell. Marcus walked through the streets of a ruined city, stepping over corpses looking at their faces as he passed them. The sounds of gunfire and explosions can be heard in the distance, the weight of the gun in his hand pulling him down with each step he took. The dream changed, Marcus now found himself in an empty field only the field wasn't empty, bodies of different species littered the field thrown over each other and in the center, a clearing free of bodies where a lone figure was on its knees, holding a something in its arms.
The profile of the figure suggested a man, the shoulders moved up and down almost like the man was crying over something but Marcus couldn't tell what. Taking a risk, he started to walk towards the man as he got closer the sounds of crying could be heard. When Marcus got within arm's reach he reached out to try and comfort the crying man. When Marcus's hand almost touched his shoulder the crying man spun around so fast that he grabbed Marcus's hand before he could pull back.
Marcus woke from his nightmare when his alarm went off, swinging his legs off the edge of the bed as he got up. Marcus sat there for while trying to clear the nightmare from his mind, for five years the dreams have plagued him, he never talked about it to anyone.
The sounds of the coffee maker going in the kitchen drew him out of his thoughts. Grabbing the pistol, he always kept on his nightstand he made his way down the hallway slowly pausing at the entrance to the kitchen, he checked the pistol making sure the safety is off before entered the kitchen. There was an asari standing in his kitchen, with her back facing him looking in a cupboard.
"Hands in the air!" Marcus ordered, making the asari jump slightly as she put her hands up. "Keep your hands up and turn around slowly," the asari turned around slowly showing Marcus her face which caused him to lower his gun.
"Liara?"
Codex
Quarian immune systems
After 600 years the quarians immune systems are now on par with other species, the first time a quarian was seen without their mask was a historic day in the galaxy. Quarian skin tones are fairly consistent across the species, their facial structure is often compared to that of a human or asari with exceptions, such as they have a flat nose, their eyelids are vertical so when they blink, they blink vertically and slowly, they also have larger iris than humans. Quarian hair is also different from human hair such as they are so soft that humans claim quarians have hair like silk and water as it flows through their hands.
Quarian females have a design on their forehead that indicates whether they are single, married, or with child. It is also important to note that quarians still wear hoods, a tradition carried over from when they still wore enviro suits.
Biotic discrimination
Treatment of human biotics have improved over the years, however fear and suspicion continues to exist in the military where biotics are often treated poorly during basic either by their fellow recruits or the instructors.
A.N.
Cliffhangers don't you just hate them? Also Wrex is back! I hope that I did justice to his character. I tried really hard to think about how Wrex would talk or act and things of that nature when writing him. I don't think we ever got an exact age for Wrex in the games or maybe we did and I just wasn't paying attention, so yeah Wrex is alive and back. Also he's too much of an iconic character to not bring back.
And on another note an unmasked quarian! The look of the quarian I actually got from the quarian section in 'Art of Mass Effect' which I recommend to look at if you want references. Also the picture of Tali in ME3 if you romanced her, Shepard actually gets a photo of Tali without her mask and her is blowing in her face so you can't really see the face that well.
I really wanted to convey Marcus's thoughts/feelings on him being a Shepard in this chapter and the favoritism that comes with being the child or in this case great, great grandchild of the legendary Commander Shepard.
I should also mention at this time that I've decided to go ahead and do a full story. I'm gonna try and extend the chapters for more content. The next two chapters are going to be still in the Milky Way before we go to Andromeda. If you guys and gals have any ideas for Reaper/Milky way hybrid tech you would like to see in the story, write it in the reviews or PM me and I'll try to work it into the story.
Lastly thank you to all who have chosen to follow or fav this story. Thank you... ;)
