10 years later
"Officer Shepherd to the briefing room," came over the comm. John Shepherd sat up in his bed. His room was small but he had nothing to put in it. "Officer Shepherd to the briefing room," came again.
"I know, I know," he muttered. Whatever they wanted him for must have been very important. John was stationed on large ship known as Fire Ball and he loved space travel.
There was something appealing to him about floating in the cold dark realm of space.
John made his way to the briefing room, nodding at his fellow soldiers when he passed by.
He had just returned from a successful mission recapturing a fortress on Frios from smugglers. He loved to kill. Every time he killed an enemy soldier he felt he was getting revenge for the people who murdered his family.
"John, I heard the mission was successful," Sam, a friend of his and engineer on the Fire Ball said.
"Yes, it was. How is it going for you," John replied back.
"Well, Shepherd, I just got back from the briefing room. They want you pretty bad."
"What's happening?" John questioned.
"All I know is I'm coming on the mission with you. They say you're leading it."
"Thanks, I better move along now." John walked past Sam and headed toward the room. He did not understand why his superiors wanted him but he assumed he had done something good. After 10 years of military service he had not yet forgotten Mindoir.
That day of pain and suffering that day had caused him turned him cold and full of hate. John had a skill with people, though. He was not shy or timid and he could read people by there emotions, emotions like kindness and compassion that he did not have.
After being called over the comm at least ten times John made to the room. "Shepherd, were the hell have you been," Admiral T.J. Richards yelled at him. John hated this man who had made most of his military life hell by giving him pointless assignments.
"Sorry, Sir, this is a big ship. Anyway what's the rush?"
"Shepherd you're the best damn soldier we've got." I've decided to move up you're rank," the admiral half yelled at him. John finally felt a surge of accomplishment rush through him. The first happy feeling he's had in years
"As you might already know you're leading a mission," the admiral interrupted his happy feeling.
"Yes, I've heard but nobody in this place has told me what," John said with a grin on his face.
"On the planet Arlos, a man named Croagalis is making illegal weapons and smuggling them to colonies throughout the galaxy. We want you to break into his factory and destroy it. If you can capture Croagalis and bring in him that would be great."
"Who is on my team?" Shepherd asked.
"Sam that engineer, Boltowski, Mason, and Covington are coming as far as I know."
"Covington is the only soldier there who can properly fire a gun. Boltowski and Mason are the worst soldiers we've got on this ship," John yelled.
"Shepherd, this is who we could spare and you're first mission and you better do what I say or you and Boltowski will be cleaning the ship for a week," the admiral replied very angrily.
"I'm sorry, Sir," apologized John.
"Yeah well you'd better be. Gear up; you're leaving at 1200 hours."
After John left the room a woman walked into the briefing room. "Did you tell him, admiral," she said in a cool smooth voice.
"No, Olivia, he doesn't know a thing, the admiral told her. "If he passes this test he's going on a smaller ship where he is needed.
"What ship?" Olivia asked.
"It is called the Normandy"