Army of Albion.
Shepard was awoken by beeping from the intercom. She left it for a monument but the beeping continued. Grudgingly she climbed out of bed and over to the intercom.
''What?''
''Get dressed you got a visitor.''
Shepard glanced over at the clock. Three o'clock AM.
''Do you know what time it is?''
''Five minutes Sheppard, make sure it decent.''
The intercom went dead, Shepard turned and located the clothes she worn at the hearing yesterday. The situation had been made worst with the violence in Madrid; twelve Spanish army officers had seized the Spanish parliament building and arrested the Spanish representative on charges of treason. Alliance army units had surrounded the building but refused to storm it. The political situation was again split and poised on a knife edge.
She changed and then exited the room. To her surprise she found the door open and the elevator sitting open.
She entered it and was soon being whisked down toward the ground floor. It came to a stop well short of the ground floor and Shepard was greeted by a corridor she hadn't been in before. A man stood waiting for her.
''This way please Miss.''
The man was dressed in a suit, there was a emblem over the left breast but he had turned and moved off before Shepard got a closer look.
''Right a few ground rules. One speak only when spoken to, don't curtsey it drives him mad, call him your highness and finial don't mention his cousins are we clear.''
They arrived at a door two soldiers were standing ever side of it. They both wore dress uniform of scarlet one emblazed with the Cross of Saint Andrew, the other the red dragon of Wales. Shepard blinked.
''Wait, who, do you mean?''
''Yes Madam your about to meet a king.''
The doors opened to revile an office with a man standing, staring out at the city. On hearing the noise he turned. Shepard was greeted by the face of King Edward the XVIII (eighteen). She went to curtsey but stop before she finished.
''Miss Shepard I presume?''
The voice was not what she had expected, a real down to earth voice which all most didn't want to be heard.
''You're...''
He cut her off.
''Please none of that, if anyone in this room deserves respect it you.''
He degusted for her to sit and waited for her to take a seat before sitting down.
''Tell me Shepard... did you ever ...did you ever want this?''
''Want... What sir?''
There was silence for a monument.
''You're a hero Shepard, I mean some people see you as the second coming.''
''I never asked to be a hero sir.''
There was silence for a monument.
''Well then we both didn't ask for this.''
Edward stood up and looked out the window.
''I know there out there shepherd, the reapers I mean, most of the alliance brass does... but the other, they just hope it will just go away.''
'' Can't you do something sir?''
Edward laugh.
''Maybe a hundred years ago, I could have done something but today no.''
''Then why are you here sir.''
Edward turned to look at her.
''I may have found something, something that could help with the reaper problem.''
Shepard sat up.
''What...have you ...''
''Yes I informed the military, it was laughed off.''
Shepard sat back; she was beginning to think Edward was wasting her time, suddenly she hared a slam as a huge file was dropped on the table.
''Surprisingly Shepard my life is rather boring, giving me plenty of time to read... ''
Shepard began flicking threw the file; it contained pictures of what appeared to be ancient artwork but with what appeared to be reapers.
'' I found theses just sitting in museum across the world, I first I thought it was coincidence but then I looked at the data recover from the beacon on mars. There was what appeared to be a map which combined with several of theses. ''
Shepard flicked over to see a partial map pasted over several of the art work, a match.
''That map when laid over earth, point to south east England, I then thought I reached a brick wall but then I found this report.''
The file suddenly turned to a report. The bulk of it was blacked out but enough was visible to make sense what the report was about.
''In 1942 the British found something down a mine shaft in Kent; it scared them enough to seal the mine and collapse the shaft. ''
Shepard turned the page and was shocked with what see saw. A grimy black and white photo showed a crocodilian life form, clad in power armour slump against a wall, on the wall was another image showing a reaper being destroyed by some huge cannon. Shepard stood up.
''Sir we need to find this. ''
Edward look surprised but delighted at the same time.
''If only the alliance top brass, were that easily persuaded.''
Edward stood up.
''Well then Shepard If we leave now we should be there in an hour.''
It was only much later that Shepard realized how many rules she was breaking but by then there were far bigger problems.
Kent
Shepard glanced out the window of the shuttle. It had started raining obscuring the ground below. However there was enough activity on the ground to stand out. Edward hadn't stop talking since they left explaining on how he found every detail of his information. Shepard was surprised that the alliance hadn't even given him a token response, especially with Anderson as councillor. There was a bump as the shuttle landed. The door opened and a figure was standing there, glad in a green khaki military uniform. Shepard recognised it as the uniform of the alliance army. The star on his shoulder indicted the rank of major general.
''Well Eddy clad you could join us.''
The thick Scottish accent cut through the air and caused Shepard to jump. The figure glanced over to her.
''Well the great Shepard has chosen to join us.''
A flash of lighting broke across the sky, illuminating the figure face. Shepard recognised it almost instantly. It was General James Thomas Campbell, hero of the alliance and the only man who emerged from Shanxi with any honour.
When General William surrender the garrison, Campbell just a lowly company commander in the black watch had uttered a phrase not suitable for polite conversation and the basically went rogue with over a company of the black watch. The turian were unable to use their fleet fire power due to the fact the mining tunnel and sewers that covered the northern part of the colony provided natural cover for Campbell troops.
The turian's sent to flush them out came to call them demons due the ferocity they fought with and the bagpipes which drove them mad. By the time alliance relief force arrived there were only 14 able to answer the call to arms. The alliance made Campbell and his surviving troops the hero's of Shanxi and the black watch added Shanxi to its battle standard. Campbell response was simple ''for two hundred year this regiment has never surrender, I wasn't about to let those men down.''
'' don't tell me your worried about a little competition Campbell.''
Edward stood up and exited into the pouring rain. Campbell stood staring at Shepard for a second before turning and following Edward. Shepard had to sprint to catch up with them despite them both being at least 20 years older than her.
''We breeched the old mine yesterday, look like they went back at some point during the cold war, there a control room been dug into the side of the old shaft, we've set up shop there. There then a 50 foot drop down to the location where the brit's found the croc, were still to send a team down there.''
'' Well let just send a team down.''
Campbell turned to look at her.
''Shepard this place has had several cave in, we barely finished adding supports to the enter passage.
'' well then let me go, the reapers are coming and there may be a solution under our feet. ''
Campbell stood for a monument.
''Fine get yourself suited up, there should be something in the supplies.''
Campbell opened his omni-tool.
''Douglas get your squad suited up, you're going in.''
''Aye sir.''
Campbell gestured toward a group building. Shepard turned and jog over to the largest building. The door hissed open and she stepped in. A group of soldiers stood round a television screen, one turned on hearing the door open.
''Commander Shepard.''
On hearing her name they all turned round and snapped to attention.
''Ma'am, what are you doing here?''
''Campbell told me to suit up.''
One of them step forward.
''If you would follow me then Ma'am. ''
Shepard followed him threw corridor of the building; it had clearly been the control building for the mine and had clearly seen better days. They were passed by a group of soldiers kitted out with climbing equipment, probably the squad Campbell had called. They entered a room being used as an armoury.
''May I have your measurement Ma'am.''
Shepard opened her omni tool and send over her specs. The solider moved off along the shelves of equipment. He began pulling items of shelves, before turning back to Shepard.
''I must say, Ma'am your bigger in real life, the ads had you more like a stick insect.''
''Thank, I think.''
The equipment was placed in front of her.
''No N7 stuff Ma'am, just standard issue.''
''No problem.''
He handed over a pad, which Shepard signed.
''You can change in there Ma'am.''
He gestured to a room of to the side. Shepard entered and then closed the door. She stood there for a monument, she should have been thinking about what was going on but her thought were on one person.
''Be safe Miri.''
Outer alliance space New Washington
Miranda step out of the car and made her way toward the house. Jacob had contacted her a few days ago saying he found something. She made her way up to the house he sent as a place to meet. She found the door open and entered.
''Jacob.''
There was silence causing her to draw the pistol from her waist. She moved through the house, despite it outside look the house was run down and covered in cobwebs. She emerged in a dining room with an old table and chairs.
''Miranda.''
She turned to see Jacob sitting in the chair at the end of the table. On seeing him she lowered the pistol.
''Jacob what are we doing here, what with all the clock and dagger? ''
''I been told to bring you back.''
Suddenly she heard a noise, this was a trap. She felt something pierce her leg and her vision began to go blurry. She glanced down to see a dart emerging from her leg. She fell to the ground as the world began to go black but voices were still audible.
''Tell the Illusive man we collected the target. ''
In the growing darkness Miranda could only see pairs of blue eyes staring back at her. The world of sound and images both vanished and Miranda was alone in the darkness.
Codex entries
King Edward XVIII (eighteen).
Never has there been a more unlikely Monarch. Born 8th of March 2154 Edward wincer was fifteenth in line to the throne of Great Britain, Edward was deemed an almost no essential and was allowed to join the alliance military at the age of eighteen. Choosing the alliance medical service Edward had risen to the rank of medical officer Edward life seemed destined for normality until the event's of the 13 November 2176. A bomb placed inside Buckingham place during the Prince of Wales birthday celebrations explode, killing the royal family as well as over a hundred others. Edward was stationed with alliance 5th army on desert exercises and avoided the events, after a week it had become clear that he was now king. Edward was crowned Edward the eighteenth a month later.
General James Thomas Campbell.
Born in Orkney 2137 James Thomas Campbell rose quickly within the rank of the alliance army but it was during the battle of Shanxi where he came to the spotlight. Fighting a fanatical defence against superior Turian forces, Campbell and his troops held out until the alliance counter attack swept the Turians form the planet. He has since risen to the rank of general and appointed as head of northern command, earth defence force.
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed.