Anderson was irritated. They needed someone. All the people that the ambassador or the admiral had tried to come up with were Spartans. He had nothing against the Spartans. They were damn good at their job and they were responsible for a lot of good work, especially against the batarians after the Blitz. But they needed someone who wasn't a faceless human. Someone whose humanity was still there. Someone who could see that the UNSC wasn't the worst thing since the krogan and rachni.
"What about John-117? He's one of the original Spartans, been active in the military for nearly sixty years. He's still combat effective, he's top of the line, and he's been leading Blue Team since their inception. He's a natural born leader, lucky, and the best of his class," the UNSC's ambassador to the Council, Donnel Udina suggested. Another Spartan. When are they going to realize that we need someone who hasn't been brainwashed by those damn ONI bastards?
"I disagree. We need someone who is going to be able to work with the Council. Someone who is a friendly man, but knows how to get the job done. No disrespect ambassador, but Spartans are not those kind of people. They're the people you want when you want something dead or blown up. Not the person you want representing humanity," David answered coolly. Hackett snorted. The commander of the Fifth Fleet, he was in charge of the defense of Arcturus Station. Normandy fell under his authority. The captain of the ship was already decided, but Anderson was still in command there.
"We need someone who is going to show that humanity will not be pushed by anyone, especially by the Council. Spartans can accomplish that," Hackett retorted. Anderson refused to let himself hit Hackett upside the head. Hackett was a fine naval officer, one of the best. It was his fleet that turned back the batarians at Torfan, despite being outnumbered four to one. He had been an ensign on the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn when the frigate had been ambushed and boarded by the Blood Pack. The then ensign had held off the krogan and vorcha mercenaries for the marines stationed on the frigate to retake the ship. It was there he received his scar; a long jagged line that ran from his right eye to his cheek, courtesy of a krogan combat knife.
"We don't need a war with the Council or the Terminus Systems. Having a pro-human extremist be the executive officer on the Normandy will not make our image any greater," Anderson fought back. They needed to come to an unanimous decision, or the proposal would be moot.
"What about Shepard?" came a woman's voice. Anderson turned to see a wrinkled face, with black hair marred by streaks of gray. Her eyes were intelligence, analyzing the three men. She was the creator of the Spartan II program. She was arguably the smartest human to ever be born.
"Doctor Halsey, we appreciate your advice. But this is a strictly military-"
"Udina if you would shut your mouth for one second, I can explain why Shepard would be a good choice," the old scientist said, jabbing her cane in the direction of the politician. Amazingly he did. "Shepard is a spacer correct? Born on Earth, raised on space ships most of his life? Traveled through the Attican Traverse?"
"Yes, but what does that have to do anything with this?" Hackett asked curiously. The admiral was a defender of the Spartan II program and one of the few friends that Halsey had made in the last seventy years.
"He has face to face experience with aliens, Council and non-Council. Spartans, while the best in combat, don't have those skills. I've read about this proposal from the Council. We need him. He's got the combat record. Just look at Elysium or Sedora. He's an ODST, which means he's a damn good fighter and for God's sake he has friends on the Citadel. He's the perfect man for the job," Halsey said, defending Shepard.
Jonathan Michael Shepard? He's a spacer, born and bred Navy...his dad retired from the Navy years ago and his mother is a captain of one of our most powerful warships. Anderson mentally went through Shepard's record.
Defended Elysium from batarian pirates, practically made him a hero overnight. Lost most of his platoon on Sedora, outnumbered a thousand to one before we showed up and saved him. Biotic...Shepard would do well.
In addition, David Anderson knew Shepard's father personally. A very smart man and a very humble one as well.
"I agree with Halsey. Shepard is a tried and true marine. Though he may not be a Spartan, he's got the combat record, he's friendly, and he's one of the fiercest fighters that the galaxy has ever seen," David said, supporting Halsey.
The two other men were at an impasse. Udina, who was a politician in the pocket of Misriah Armory, who supplied the Spartans powered armor, wanted a Spartan to be on the Normandy. But there were only a hundred Spartans. And most of them were in the process of being trained on Onyx while the rest of the Spartan-IIs were deployed to top-secret missions everywhere else.
When the Spartan II program went public, the UNSC had to do damage control. Most of the original Spartans were in their seventies now. In order to replace them, the UNSC had asked for volunteers to be genetically screened in order to see who was viable for augmentation. Usually, nobody was viable. But children were still disappearing and flash clones were still being made. Anderson knew that the Spartan program should continue because of the threats they faced. But exposing the new Spartans to a galaxy known for their fear of them would not do well to improve humanity's image.
Hackett, was still enamored with the Spartans. He had been friends with Halsey's daughter, Admiral Miranda Keyes, for years. He knew all about Halsey and she was a role model for the admiral. Hackett wanted a Spartan on board, but he would support Dr. Halsey in the end.
"I have to say...if Doctor Halsey supports this...I will too. She's one of humanity's finest minds and a mentor. She's rarely wrong. I think we should trust her on this one," Hackett conceded. Udina looked at his omni-tool, one of the few items that were very popular with the human populace that came from Council space. He was irritated. And he was going to be mad. But with three people against him, he knew when to quit.
"I'll support Shepard. The Lion of Elysium is a war hero. He spreads hope. The decision is final. Shepard will be the executive officer of the Normandy," Udina said, with a reluctant sigh. Halsey smiled, her teeth still pearly white.
"I sure know how to pick them."
And the old doctor retreated from the room, leaving the others to ponder on this ODST. Let's hope you Doctor.
Commander Adriana Alvarez was not a very patient woman. The fiery officer marched from the comm room where she had just spoken with UNSC top brass. She had recommended a Spartan for her executive officer. She was sure that they were going to go with it. Instead, they were sending some biotic grunt. Lieutenant Jonathan Michael Shepard, a Orbital Drop Shock Trooper from Earth and raised on space ships. Whoever this guy is, he better be good.
She was technically still not in command of the ship; it still belonged to Captain Anderson. But that was going to change after the shakedown run for the Prothean beacon on Eden Prime. She had to admit, she was excited for her first ship command. The Normandy was a top of the line stealth ship, even better than ONI's own Prowlers and much better armed. Pulse lasers, a spinal gun, even an EMP cannon. She was meant to be the flagship of humanity, until the Infinity was finally built.
She was just giddy with excitement.
The ship didn't have a regular marine detachment. Presently, there were only six marines stationed on the Normandy. The Lieutenant Commander would be in charge of the ground team. She was a master in space and all of it was her domain. She also didn't have a smart artificial intelligence, just a dumb one, that was more similar to the virtual intelligence of the Council. Captain Anderson had only said it was due to them operating in Council space that they didn't want AIs falling into the hands of aliens.
It was a strange situation, but she had been dealing with strange all her life.
"Commander, we're receiving Lieutenant Commander Shepard's Pelican now. UNSC personnel are also loading the Cougar on board as well. We're stockpiling weapons and ammunition," the dumb AI Auntie DOT informed Adriana through her communications device. The Normandy's cargo bay could hold two Cougars or two Pelicans. She went with one of each. There was also a HEV Bay, located right next to the cargo bay. The Normandy could send a fully equipped combat squad to the surface of any planet.
All in all, she was ready for this. Her first command. She couldn't mess this up. She needed this. In order to erase the stain on the family honor.
I'll make you proud father. I'll show those idiots at the Academy that we have what it takes.
Clearing the thoughts from her mind, she was soon in the CIC. A galaxy map, showing all the relays and systems that lead to UNSC space. Currently, they were near Arcturus Station, waiting for the order to jump from Arcturus to Eden Prime. She then saw a tactical map of all the ships that were near the station. One hundred and thirty of humanity's most advanced ships were stationed there, representing a tenth of humanity's naval assets.
The UNSC Fifth Fleet was commanded by Admiral Hackett, who commanded the UNSC McKinley, one of the few Vindicator-class battleships in the UNSC Navy. A little over three kilometers long, she dwarfed anything in the Council's arsenal with the exception of the Destiny Ascension, the flagship of the Citadel Fleet.
"Thank you. Tell the Lieutenant Commander to please see me as soon as he touches down. And tell Moreau to get to the med-bay. Dr. Chakwas wants another look at him before we head out to Eden Prime," she spoke as she continued scrolling through the galaxy map, priming a course for Eden Prime.
"Of course Commander. The Lieutenant Commander should be up in the CIC in two minutes," the AI then logged off, most likely running diagnostics of some sorts. She turned away from the galaxy map, looking at her private terminal. No new messages. Of course. As she continued to scroll away at her private terminal, a man with a goatee and a hat with the words SR-1 on it started to limp by, sarcastically bowing before hobbling to the elevator.
Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau was perhaps the only human born with Vrolik's Syndrome. Though genetic therapy and regular exercise meant that he wasn't in danger of breaking bones for daily activities, he wasn't able to go into ground side combat. That was what made him such a terrific pilot.
The elevator soon dinged and out came a fully armored marine. Dressed in head to toe in standardized black ODST armor, Captain Alvarez was not disappointed. A clear and wide scratch ran from his chestplate to his right shoulder, while his own face was scarred. A large jagged scar ran across his cheek towards his face. Courtesy of a batarian, Adriana knew. The Lion of Elysium. The man who had been there to defend humanity.
"Mam," the marine saluted, "Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Shepard reporting for duty."
He was eager. And he had combat scars. The captain analyzed the ODST. She had read his record; sixty-four orbital insertions. Combat in Elysium where he was outnumbered in the thousands. Had lead an ODST platoon onto the planet of Sedora where he had lost most of them to human supremacists before being rescued by Captain Anderson.
She even the personal parts. No romantic partner. Many friends, even some aliens on the Citadel he met when he was on leave. Both parents served in the Navy, one still serving as the CO of the Orizaba. Friendly and outgoing, he was a paragon of a sorts.
"At ease LC," she said coolly. She wanted a Spartan. Someone who wouldn't hesitate to put humanity's interest first. The marine relaxed, though his stance was still rigid, and alert. She could see the weapons the man had brought. A M9S SMG was snugly attached to the magnetic strip on his right while a M6K magnum was attached to the strip on his left. A MA6D assault rifle was on his back. It was an interesting choice of weapons.
She knew that she needed to get some things out of the way first. Namely, her dissatisfaction that she wasn't going to have a Spartan, that a Spectre would join them on Eden Prime and that she wouldn't have a Spartan as her executive officer!
"First, I would like to make clear that the decision to have you as XO was not my idea. I wanted a Spartan. But since we have to appease the damn aliens, I'm stuck with you. Though your combat record stands out, I wanted someone who would not hesitate to put humanity over the rest of the galaxy. Or choke. I wanted a tank. Instead I have you," she started. The LC remained impassive.
"Permission to speak freely mam?" he asked curtly. The officer looked at her subordinate. The marine was not supposed to be a Lieutenant Commander; he was supposed to be a Major. But since he was supposed to be her executive officer, he had been transferred to the Navy. She had been in strange situations before. Like Akuze.
God forgive her for Akuze.
"Permission granted," she said grudgingly, leaning back with her arms crossed. The marine smiled briefly.
"Mam, I'm here because you need someone who can connect to the rest of the galaxy. Spartans are the best in combat, no doubt about that. But they have no people skill. They have no connection, just waiting for their next mission, whether it be stomping out traitors or taking out classified targets. We're trying to become a bigger part of the galactic community, instead of being known as the enclave that refuses to interact with them. The batarians already hate us; because they thought we were weak. We don't need more enemies. We do this mam, we'll be showing that we can be part of the galactic community," he said earnestly, shifting a little uncomfortably.
She was quiet. He had spoken of his true value; connection. He was a damn good fighter, but he saw more out of humanity. Shepard was an idealist who had fought against the batarians nearly every year he was in the military. And even then, we can't stand against the combined might of the Citadel Alliance.
"You speak of idealism LC. But we have already seen what that idealism has lead us. We tried to become more inclusive to the Citadel; Captain Anderson, no disrespect to them, was the proof that we weren't ready. The batarians are still a Citadel member. Their military is the third biggest in that alliance," she retorted. The LC just sighed.
"Mam, twenty years ago is a long time. The batarians are threat to the galaxy that I hope we destroy. But we can't risk war. Not with the Council's numbers. We are outnumbered. But look at what we've managed to accomplish. The Normandy is the finest damn ship in the UNSC Navy. We've graciously allowed a Spectre on board to make them see our value, when we go pick him up on Eden Prime. We've got to make sure the Council sees our value is better than the batarians." he trailed off. A hatred for batarians.
Maybe that could come in handy.
"Dismissed Lieutenant Commander. Make sure that your ground team is ready to move when we reach Eden Prime," she said quietly. Her XO saluted her and she returned the salute. Soon Auntie DOT was speaking to her.
"Commander, we are ready to proceed to the relay. Lieutenant Moreau will take over soon. Just give the word."
"Hit the relay. ETA?"
"Two hours."
This is going to be a long two hours.