Sorry, this took so long; I wanted to document a rather large portion of the game. That and winter break came around and I went down to Florida and stayed at my sister's for Christmas and just hectic. But you shouldn't be surprised. I'm not updating this regularly or anything, its just for kicks and giggles. I won't make any promises, but I do hope to entertain people with this.
I started off just taking things word for word of what they say but that turned into quite a hassle so I'll just do the dialogue from memory and occasionally consult youtube.
So, yeah, this is mostly just dialogue and talking and introducing you to my version of Commander John Shepard.
Thanks for the reviews so far and enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Mass Effect universe or Bioware.
In the year 2148, explorers on Mars discovered the remains of an ancient spacefaring civilization. In the decades that followed, these mysterious artifacts revealed startling new technologies, enabling travel to the furthest stars. The basis for this incredible technology was a force that controlled the very fabric of space and time.
They called it the greatest discovery in human history.
The civilizations of the galaxy call it…
MASS EFFECT
«0.01: SSV Normandy: Command Deck»
«or Briefing»
Glancing out the window, Lieutenant Commander John Shepard saw the planet Earth rotating below. For the longest while, the Earth held his gaze, either because Shepard didn't want to look at anything else, or couldn't. It was hard to tell.
Unwanted memories were annoying as hell.
Not that there was anything else to look at here in the living quarters of the frigate. Just hard, colorless steel. It was all so enclosed.
So claustrophobic.
Shepard shot down those thoughts before they ever surfaced. Not now. He had a mission and he needed to focus on it. He couldn't afford to
Soon enough, the SSV Normandy turned and the Earth pulled away from view. Shepard finally relaxed and ran a hand through his short cut, black hair. Damn, he wanted a cigarette. But, this was a no smoking flight, and Shepard didn't feel like having to explain himself to a bunch of suits.
Presently, he got back to what he was doing, which was putting on his red Level X Colossus medium armor. Sure, it wasn't standard alliance issue, but that was necessarily a bad thing. It had the best protection from most attacks, the highest amount of shields and protected him from sabotage and biotic attacks rather well. It also allowed for ample movement, something that has always helped him in the past.
The past.
Shepard unconsciously touched the deep scar that ran down through the middle of his right eye. He always had trouble with that eye. It wasn't blind, but it couldn't see as well as his other one. It still passed Alliance examination, and it wouldn't get any worse than it was. But still…
Shepard shook his head and continued putting on his armor. He didn't have time for this. He had to focus on his mission.
He pulled his kinetic padded pants up and stood up at the same time. The things felt like rubber mixed with leather. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, but slowly, one got used to it. Shepard could barely feel it. Besides the small aching in his joints and muscles, he could barely feel a thing.
When had the aching started?
Shepard knew the answer, but didn't dwell on it. He had a job to do.
Shepard walked onto the second level of the Normandy and almost bumped into someone. He gently pushed the young soldier out of the way. Jenkins, he thought his name was. He didn't really care. He looked green, plus he was young. Still full of ideas of grandeur, and glory. Still thought battle was fun. He was in for a surprise.
He continued to walk, even thought he knew Jenkins was giving him a look of awe, excitement, and admiration. He hated that look.
He passed by Navigator Pressly who nodded towards him. Shepard nodded back. He liked Pressly. He was a good man and a good navigator. Plus, he was with Shepard during the Skyllian Blitz. Not on the first day, but he came with the SSV Agincourt as a reinforcement vessel. They got along quite well, even though he was a higher-ranking officer than Shepard was at the time.
He continued to walk down the long tube-like hallway lined with monitors and people. Up ahead was the cockpit where Joker was piloting. He also saw someone else. Nihlus Kryik, a turian soldier sent by the Citadel council.
A Spectre.
Shepard didn't really care that Nihlus was a turian, despite the great animosity between turians and Humans since the First Contact War. Just because of how a species decided to act, doesn't mean any individual should be punished for it.
As he neared the cockpit, he heard Joker's voice.
"Relay is hot. Acquiring approach vector."
Shepard knew they were getting closer to the relay. He could see it in the window in front of him. He always admired the Mass Relays. They were enormous stations that glowed a bright blue light from the Mass Accelerator at its core.
Shepard walked up to the cockpit and stopped next to Nihlus, who took note of him then concentrated on the relay.
"All stations secure for transit. Board is green."
Here it comes.
"Approach run has begun."
Soon enough, they would be running at speeds faster than the speed of light. What would take thousands of years to travel, now only took hours. Shepard liked the convenience.
"Hitting the relay in three…two…one…"
"Here we go," Shepard muttered to himself. Nihlus barely glanced at him.
The SSV Normandy was shot out like a gun and propelled through the vastness of space.
\::/::\::/::\::/
"Thrusters…check. Navigation…check. Internal emission sink engaged. All systems online. Drift…just under 1500 K," Joker read through the procedure like he was reading a book. They were already 15 minutes out from initial burst.
"1500 is good," Nihlus commented. "You're captain will be pleased." With that, he turned and walked away. Shepard glanced over his shoulder and watched the turian leave. Shepard didn't understand it. Something about the way that turian acted seemed different. Shepard would often times find him looking at his direction. Analyzing him. Studying him. Shepard knew that the Spectre was here for a different reason than just seeing off the Normandy's maiden voyage. He just hoped he would find out what before it was too late.
"I hate that guy," Joker stated. It was a statement of fact.
"Nihlus gave you a complement," said the dark haired lieutenant sitting in the co-pilot's chair. "So…you hate him."
Shepard looked over at Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. Even though they were on the same squad, Shepard never really talked to Kaidan. He usually keeps to himself. But who could blame him; he was in fact a Biotic.
And Biotic's didn't really have pretty history.
"You remember to zip up your jumpsuit on the way out of the bathroom? That's good!" Joker vented. "I just jumped us halfway across the galaxy and hit a target the size of a pinhead. So that's incredible! Besides, Spectres are trouble. I don't like having him onboard. Call me paranoid."
Shepard chuckled inwardly. He had to admit; Joker was one of the best pilots in the Alliance fleet. But he did have a problem with that tongue of his.
"You're paranoid," Kaidan said exasperated. "The Council helped fund this project. They have a right to send someone to keep an eye on their investment."
"Yeah, that is the official story," Joker said sarcastically. "Only an idiot believes in the official story."
"They don't send a Spectre on a shakedown run," Shepard muttered, mostly to himself. They were told that this would be a routine test to see if everything on the new ship was operating at peak capacity. Shepard thought that that was all it would be until Nihlus came on board. Kaidan's theory would have made more sense if the Council had sent a member from Citadel Security with them.
But instead, they got a Spectre, a special operative who answer to no laws except those given by the members of the Citadel Council themselves. Shepard often dreamed of having that kind of power, but only in frustration of having to do some seemingly arbitrary thing in order to get to the real objective. But this wasn't what bothered him. It was the fact that an actual Spectre on board. Plus, Nihlus seemed a bit edgy, if Shepard study of turians proved correct. Turians had different actions for their emotions. What might look like a turian having an itch might actually be a turian shaking with rage and anger.
"So, there's more going on here than we rea-" Joker began, but a voice on the communication channel cut him off.
"Joker, status report." It was the voice of Captain David Anderson, captain of the SSV Normandy and Shepard's commanding officer. Shepard talked to him a few times before they left. He liked him. He's seen combat and knew how to deal with stress and pressure pretty well. Shepard respected him.
Then again, Anderson did tend to get on Shepard's nerves. Not because of anything he did, necessarily. He just hated taking orders in general.
"Just cleared the Mass Relay, captain," Joker reported. "Stealth systems engaged. Every thing looks solid."
"Good," Anderson answered. "Find a comm. buoy and link us into the network. I want mission reports relayed back to Alliance Brass before we reach Eden Prime."
"Aye, aye, captain," Joker saluted. Then he added in a slightly sarcastic tone, "Better brace yourself, sir. I think Nihlus is headed your way."
"He's already here, Lieutenant," Anderson snapped. Joker closed his eyes and shook his head, while Kaidan chuckled. Shepard felt like doubling over with laughter, but he quickly controlled himself. "Tell Commander Shepard to meet me in the comm. room for a debriefing." And with a beep, he was disconnected.
"You get that commander?" Joker asked.
"Thanks a lot, Joker," Shepard muttered sarcastically. "You pissed the captain off, and now I have to pay for it. Really appreciate it." He turned away with a fake exasperated sigh.
"Don't blame me!" Joker said defensively. "The captain's always in a bad mood."
"Only when he's talking to you Joker," Kaidan remarked.
Shepard knew that Joker wasn't to blame for the captain's agitation. Still, it was fun to mess with people. But he had to admit; the captain seemed very upset about something. And if the captain's upset, then that means something bad just happened. And Shepard had a feeling that it didn't bode well for him or the crew in the long run.
He needed a cigarette.
As he walked down the hallway, he overheard Pressly in a rather heated discussion with Chief Engineer Adams over something. Probably Nihlus. Shepard knew that Pressly didn't like turians in general, basically because of his family history in the First Contact War.
"He's a Spectre, they're always on a mission," Adams was saying.
"And we're getting dragged, right along with him!" Pressly exclaimed.
"Settle down, Pressly," Shepard interrupted playfully. "You're gonna give yourself an ulcer."
Pressly quickly turned of the comm. channel, spun around, and saluted sharply.
"Commander!" Pressly exclaimed. "I didn't-"
"Calm down, Pressly," Shepard told him. It was fun to mess with people. "So, what's going on?"
"Nothing, sir, just having a chat with Adams down in engineering," Pressly answered. But something was bothering him.
"Pressly, we've known each other for what, 5 years?" Shepard told him. "I think we're past titles. Now what's bothering you?"
"Well, John, something's odd about this mission," Pressly told him. "I've got a feeling like we're not being kept in the loop, or at least that we're out on false pretences. I don't like it. Feels just like Elysium."
Shepard nodded slowly. It did feel like Elysium. Knowing something horrifying is coming around the corner, but having to wait for it to come. The waiting. He sighed.
"You think the brass is holding out on us?" Shepard whispered, stepping a little bit closer. No need for anyone else to hear.
"If all we're meant to do is test out the stealth systems, why is Captain Anderson in charge? And then there's Nihlus. You don't send a Spectre and a war hero of Captain Anderson's caliber on a do-nothing mission. Nihlus and the Captain are treating this mission a little to seriously. I don't like it," Pressly wiped his forehead. Shepard nodded.
"Captain's waiting for me," Shepard told him. "I'll try to find out what's going on."
"Good luck, John," Pressly replied. They clasped hands in a shake and Shepard walked on.
Shepard had met Pressly during the Skyllian Blitz and they've been acquaintances ever since. Acquaintances, not friends. Sure they talked whenever they could, and shared a couple of beers, but that was the extent of their relationship. Shepard liked it that way.
This way, nothing bad or unexpected showed up to ruin it.
Shepard walked on. By the door to the comm. room, he saw the annoying green soldier he passed before having a chat with Doctor Chakwas, the Chief Medical Officer assigned to the Normandy.
Chakwas. Goddammit.
Chakwas was his psychological evaluator after Akuze. She was especially…prying. He could say inquisitive of his past but that didn't even cut the surface of it. Shepard also noticed that her name was an anagram for "hacksaw." He thought it was appropriate. She liked to cut into his past like one. Still, Shepard respected her, just not when she became the Doctor.
"I grew up on Eden Prime, doc," Jenkins was saying. "It's not the kind of place Spectres visit. There's something the captain's not telling us."
"That's crazy!" Chakwas said incredulously. "The captain's in charge here, he wouldn't take orders from a Spectre!"
"Not his choice, doc. Spectres work above the law. They can do almost anything, kill anyone in their way!" Chakwas rolled her eyes.
"You watch too many spy vids, Jenkins!" she scoffed. Jenkins looked up and noticed Shepard. He saluted sharply.
"What do you think, Commander? We won't be staying on Eden Prime long, will we? I'm itching for some real action!"
There was the attitude. The one that annoyed him so much.
"I sincerely hope you're kidding, Corporal. You're real action usually ends up with me patching you up in the infirmary!" Chakwas told him.
"You need to calm down, Corporal!" Shepard told him sternly. "A good soldier stays cool, even under fire."
"Sorry, Commander, but this waiting's killing me! I've never been on a mission like this before! Not one with a Spectre on board!" Jenkins exclaimed.
"Just treat this like every assignment you've had and everything will work out," Shepard sighed. Here comes the headache.
"Easy for you to say!" Jenkins exclaimed. "You've proven yourself during the Blitz, on Torfan and Akuze! Everyone knows what you can do! This is my big chance. I need to show the brass what I can do!"
"This isn't about personal glory, corporal!" Shepard snapped. "We have a job to do. Don't do anything stupid to mess it up!"
"Don't worry, sir!" Jenkins said excitedly, yet cautiously. "I'm not going to screw this up!"
"See that you don't," Shepard said sternly. He glanced at Chakwas, who looked him in the eye. Shepard quickly looked at Jenkins. "You're from Eden Prime, aren't you Jenkins? What's it like?"
"It's very peaceful. They've been very careful with development, so you don't have any city noise or pollution. My parents lived on the outskirts of the colony. At night I used to climb up this big hill and stare across the fields back at the lights from the main office buildings. John loved looking at the lights from the offices. With so much light pollution, you could barely see the stars in the sky. It was frustrating to know that they were there; you just couldn't see them. The lights from the offices would have to suffice. For now, at least.
As he stared at the buildings, he felt saddened to see them slowly turn off one by one. It took awhile, but eventually, all the lights turned off. John sighed. He hated to see them go. That would mean the mission would start soon.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his handmade shiv that Finch gave him. 9 years old and already has his very own shiv. Would he be able to use it?
"John!"
John knew that voice. He turned with a smile on his face and
"Commander?"
Shepard looked up and noticed that Jenkins and Chakwas were looking at with a concerned look. Chakwas was more curious.
"Commander, are you alright? You look a bit…tired," Jenkins asked. Shepard didn't answer. Instead, he looked behind him to where he thought the voice had come from. There was no one there. No one except Pressly, who was busy looking over the Galaxy Map. Nevertheless, he continued to look, but not really look.
"Commander," Chakwas began. "What are you thinking about?"
Shepard shot a hard and hateful look at the doctor. Jenkins took an almost unnoticeable step back, shocked. And scared. Chakwas met his stare with one of her own. It was not filled with hate, but it had the same power.
Shepard didn't have time for this.
"The captain's waiting for me," Shepard. He stalked off, the hateful look still on his face.
"Goodbye, Commander," he heard Chakwas's voice behind him. He nearly snarled at her.
God, where was that cigarette?
Shepard walked into the comm. room and was slightly surprised to fine Nihlus gazing over a report on Eden Prime. Slightly. The turian always seemed to be somewhere close by wherever he went. Shepard didn't let this faze him and he walked up to him.
Nihlus must have heard him coming because he turned from the report looked at him.
"Commander Shepard," Nihlus greeted him. "I was hoping you'd get here first. It would give us a chance to talk."
How surprising and completely unexpected.
"What about?" Shepard indulged incuriously.
"I'm interested in this world we're going to; Eden Prime," Nihlus said, gesturing to the report on the monitor. It showed a picture of an idyllic world with trees and plains stretching as far as the eye could see. "I hear it's quite beautiful."
Shepard noticed that Nihlus's tone suggested that he was saying this as a fact, not an observation.
"I've never actually been there," Shepard muttered. "Though I've heard people say it's a paradise."
"Yes, a paradise," Nihlus mused. "Serene. Tranquil. Safe."
He stressed the word 'safe' a little too much.
"Eden Prime has become something of a symbol for your people, hasn't it? Proof that humanity cannot only establish colonies across the galaxy, but also protect them."
He turned away from Shepard and gazed at the planet shown on the view screen.
"But how safe is it really?"
"If you've got something to say, just say it," Shepard was really annoyed now. Whatever Nihlus was doing, he was dodging the real issue. And the point he was trying to get at.
"Your people are still newcomers, Shepard," Nihlus shot back. "The galaxy can be a very dangerous place. Is the alliance truly ready for this?"
Shepard stared into Nihlus's eyes. Hard.
He heard the door open behind him and looked over to see Captain Anderson stride in.
"I think it's time we told the Commander what's really going on," Anderson told Nihlus.
"This mission is far more than a simple shakedown run," Nihlus began.
"I figured there was something that you weren't telling us," Shepard said.
"We're making a covert pick-up on Eden Prime," Anderson continued. "That's why we needed the stealth systems operational."
"I don't like being kept out in the dark, Captain," Shepard stated angrily. "That's exactly when things go straight to shit."
"I know, Commander," Anderson said. "I didn't like it either. But this came straight from the top. Information strictly on a need to know basis."
Guess Shepard had to live with that. He shrugged.
"A research team on Eden Prime unearthed some kind of…beacon," Anderson paused. "It was Prothean."
Wait, Prothean?
"I thought the Prothean's vanished 50,000 years ago," Shepard whispered, the shock still there.
"Their legacy still remains," Nihlus explained. "The Mass Relays, the Citadel, our ship drives. It's all based on Prothean technology."
"This is big, Shepard," Anderson continued. "The last time Humanity made a discovery like this, it jumped our technology forward 200 years. But Eden Prime doesn't have the facility to handle something like this. We need to bring the Beacon back to the Citadel for proper study."
"Obviously this goes beyond mere human interests, Commander," Nihlus said. "This could affect every species in Council Space."
Ah, the pieces were now falling into place.
"Thanks, I guess," Shepard muttered. He wasn't really sure if he meant it, but it was due. "Always good to have a few extra hands."
"There's more Shepard," Anderson continued. "Nihlus isn't just here for the Beacon. He's also here to evaluate you."
Oh, hell no. Shepard got enough of that from Chakwas.
"I don't need a Spectre following me everywhere I go," Shepard said.
"You're smart enough to know how things work, Commander," Anderson stated. "The Alliance has been pushing for this for a long time. Humanity wants a larger role in shaping interstellar policy. We want more say with the Citadel Council. The Spectres represent the Council's power and authority. If they accept a human into their ranks, it shows how far the alliance has come."
"I've read your review during the Blitz," Nihlus said. "Very impressive, for someone just graduated from N7. You showed a very strong willingness to take command and protect those who you only just met. You also showed a strong will to do whatever was necessary to get the job done on Torfan and a strong will to live on Akuze. Leadership, strength and survival techniques. All of these are particularly useful talents. That's why I put your name forward as a candidate for the Spectres."
"Why would a turian place a human's name forward?" Shepard asked, curious.
"Not all turians resent humanity, Shepard," Nihlus told him. "Some of us see the potential of your species. And while some believe that you are too ambitious for your own good, some believe that you can be a valuable asset to Citadel Space. I, personally, don't care that you're human, Shepard. I only care that you can do the job."
Shepard nodded. Despite all of his other qualities, Nihlus was a good soldier and …individual.
"I assume this is good for the Alliance, Captain," Shepard knew the answer, but he needed to hear it from his mouth as confirmation.
"Earth needs this, Shepard," the Captain told him. "Humanity wants to be a bigger part in shaping interstellar policies. We want more say with the Citadel Council. The Spectres represent the Council's power and authority. If they accept a human into their ranks, it'll show how far we've come. We're counting on you."
Shepard sniffed.
"I'll have to see your skills for myself," Nihlus chimed in. "Eden Prime will be the first of many missions together."
"For now, you must see that beacon gets onto the Normandy ASAP," Anderson continued.
"We're spending a lot of energy and effort for a piece of old Prothean whatever-it-is," Shepard crossed his arms. "Why?"
"It's the first piece of Prothean technology that we've discovered still intact," Nihlus answered. "All other artifacts were too badly damaged to really be of any use."
"When we discovered the Prothean ruins buried on Mars, it jumped our technology forward 200 years," Anderson said. "That was just a small data cache. What if this beacon is a weapons archive? We can't let it fall into the wrong hands."
That explained why they needed the stealth systems on the Normandy.
"Are we expecting trouble from the Terminus Systems?" Shepard asked. "Eden Prime is close to the Terminus Systems, but it is under Citadel protection. If the Terminus Systems attack, its an act of war."
"Technically yes," Nihlus agreed. "But some of the members of the Terminus Systems might be willing to start a war over this."
"True," Shepard muttered. The Terminus Systems was a collection of systems that shared a common enemy: the Citadel. But besides that, they can hardly be called a unified people. They spend so much time bickering over power that the Citadel barely paid any attention to them. But united, they can rival the citadel in power.
"Your ready Shepard?" Anderson asked.
"Get the beacon, go to the ship, and be as quiet as possible. Just give the word, Captain." Shepard reiterated.
"We should be getting close to Eden-" Anderson was cut off by a voice on the intercom.
"Captain! We've got a problem!" the voice belonged to Joker.
"What's wrong, Joker?" Anderson inquired.
"Transmission from Eden Prime, sir, you better see this," Joker answered.
"Bring it up on screen," Anderson approached the screen, along with Shepard and Nihlus.
The screen went black for a second, then a pitched battle appeared. It was a camera feed from a soldier's helmet. The screen shook and moved as the soldier moved, avoiding gunfire and explosions. It went to another soldier in white armor. The female ran up to the camera.
"Get down!" she shouted as she pushed the camera down and returned fire. The camera faced another soldier who began shouting at the camera.
"We are under attack! Taking heavy-" explosion "-fire! I repeat, heavy fire! We can't-" ricochet "-get evac! They came out of nowhere! We need-" gunshot and blood. The soldier relaying the message was shot and fell.
The camera continued to move as it looked over the other soldiers when it paused for a second. The soldier on screen lowered his gun and began to step back, eyes on the sky. The camera looked over to another soldier who was looking up as well, ignoring the gunfire around him.
The camera looked up and saw…something. It was covered in smoke and electricity was erupting from it. It hummed with artificial life as its claws opened up. The camera began to go unsteady, moving without order, glimpsing other soldiers grabbing their heads and helmets, a high-pitched squealing noise filling the screen.
Then static.
Shepard, Anderson and Nihlus stared at the white noise on the screen, taking in what just happened.
"Everything just cuts out after that," Joker's voice came on again. "No comm. traffic or anything. It just goes dead. There's nothing."
"Reverse and hold at 38.5," Anderson told him. The video reversed and went to the thing covered in smoke and electricity. Shepard got a better look at it again. It looked like a giant, mechanical squid. It wasn't claws, but tentacles that opened up, exposing a gigantic maw.
Nihlus's mandibles twitched.
"Status report," Anderson said.
"15 minutes from Eden Prime, Captain, no other Alliance ships in the area," Joker relayed.
"Take us in, Joker, fast and quiet," Anderson ordered. "This mission just got a whole lot more complicated."
"A small strike team can move quickly, without drawing attention," Nihlus suggested. "They can get to the beacon as quietly as possible."
"Suit up and head to the engineering bay," Anderson said. Nihlus turned and headed to the door without a word. Anderson turned to Shepard. "You're going in, Shepard. Get ready."
Shepard looked once more at the screen, at the mechanical…thing. He saluted sharply. "Yes sir," was all he said.
He needed a cigarette.
\::/::\::/::\::/
Shepard leaned against the wall in the engineering bay, legs crossed and arms folded. His head was tilted back against the wall, almost like he was sleeping, but his eyes were open. He always did this before a mission. Meditate.
Kaidan was helping Jenkins with his weaponry and his suit next to him. Jenkins was listening partially, but his attention was focused solely on Nihlus, who was sitting on a crate, staring at the floor.
Shepard glanced over at Nihlus then walked over. He sat down on a crate next to Nihlus and leaned back. They said nothing. Shepard got bored and took out his hunting knife from a small sleeve on his left arm and began to twirl it through his fingers. The blade itself was only about 4 inches long, making the entire knife about a half a foot long. The handle had a small semi-circular groove where his finger was meant to go, as well as a small hilt so his hand wouldn't slip if it hit something hard. Shepard loved the knife; it helped him concentrate.
"I didn't know the Alliance issued knives to their soldiers," Nihlus stated.
"They don't," Shepard said. "I've had this since I was a kid on earth."
"Think you'll need it?" Nihlus asked.
"Don' know," Shepard asked. "But multiple times, I've been within 2 feet of someone with a gun pointed at me. It's saved my butt plenty of times in my career. It's a handy thing to have."
Nihlus stuck his hand out and Shepard gave it to him, hilt first. Nihlus examined the knife and held it in his hand, careful he didn't touch the blade.
"I should get one," Nihlus remarked.
"I'll show you a good shop on the Wards next time we're at the Citadel," Shepard told him.
"Sure," Nihlus returned the knife.
"We've arrived at Eden Prime," Joker chimed in. "Activating stealth systems. Approaching Drop Point 1." Anderson approached them. Nihlus and Shepard got up and walked toward the door. Kaidan and Jenkins followed.
"You're team's the muscle in this operation, Commander," Anderson told Shepard. "Get to the beacon and get it on board ASAP."
"What about survivor's, Captain?" a voice behind Shepard asked. Shepard glanced and saw it was Kaidan. Interesting. His first thought was for civilians.
"Helping survivor's is a secondary objective," Anderson said. "The beacon's your top priority."
The engineering bay doors opened with a large amount of wind blowing through. The ground rushed below them and began to slow. Nihlus got out his shotgun and checked it again. He looked up at Shepard who gave a small, two-fingered salute. Nihlus returned it.
"Nihlus, you coming with us?" Jenkins asked.
"I move faster on my own," was all he said before he jumped off and onto the ground below. The ground than began to speed up again as Nihlus went out of sight.
"Nihlus will scout out ahead," Anderson said. "He'll relay information if anything comes up. Until then, I want radio silence."
"Ready and able, sir," Shepard said.
"The mission's yours now, Shepard. Gook luck," Anderson said.
"Approaching Drop Point 2," Joker said. The ship slowed down and lowered to the ground. Shepard looked down and cracked his neck as he rolled his head around his shoulders. After that, he cracked his knuckles and his back. Then he jumped off while taking his assault rifle out.
He landed on the ground softly into a crouch and quickly looked around with his rifle. He heard two soft thuds as Kaidan and Jenkins landed beside him, Kaidan with his pistol and Jenkins with his rifle.
The wind ruffled through the grass and the Normandy sped off. The setting sun shined off of the metal of the group's armor and weapons. Shepard waited for silence. Then he got up and put his gun away.
"Let's go," was all he said walked on, with Kaidan and Jenkins behind him. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of distant gunfire and crackling fire.