Episode 3: Finally met (29th February, 2186 - 2nd March, 2186)

29th February, 2186 - SSV Normandy SR2, en route to Earth

Olivia was walking through the CIC. They restocked, and they were on the way to Earth to meet with Admiral Anderson to talk about John Shepard's case. This was the first time she was flying with the Normandy for fifteen hours, and she didn't know what to do.

The dreadnought was large enough that there was always something to do, but on a small ship was the Normandy, the things she could do was limited.

Passing her private terminal, she walked up to the galaxy map, and randomly zoomed in to other planets, reading descriptions of explorers. About fifteen minutes had passes when she got bored, and read the same planet's description for the third time. Noticing this, Specialist Traynor asked, "Umm, Captain, is there something wrong with the galaxy map?"

Olivia looked toward her with her green eyes, "No, actually not, Samantha. I thought that I could spend some time here, but this isn't really entertaining."

"Actually, a lot of strategy games are based off the galaxy map, captain."

"Please, call me Olivia. And that sounds awesome! Do you have any?" She asked.

The specialist searched her omni-tool for a game, "Oh, yes. It's called Galaxy of Fantasy. It's an online game, and it has eleven billion players."

"Can you install it to my omni-tool?" Olivia asked.

Traynor stepped closer, allowing their omni-tool to synch up, and to begin transfer. A loud noise signed that the transfer is complete. "Thanks." The captain said, and went back to her cabin.

Traynor stepped back to her terminal, took a deep breath and continued to stare at the screen like she usually does when the captain is near.

1st March, 2186 - Earth, Sol, Local

Olivia walked through the ramp from the airlock to the terminal of the space port. Ashley and Tali quickly followed her, in their casual clothes. "What do you think, skipper?" Ashley asked Olivia.

"I'm not sure." She answered. Her brother has been locked up for three months now, living in an apartment guarded by Lieutenant James Vega.

"Won't you try to get him out?" Tali asked.

"He was a pain in the ass, Tali. It's not my place to judge, really."

"She's right." Ashley said, turning to Tali. "Being a relative renders Olivia excluded from the case."

"Yeah, I kind of forgot how human law works." Tali said.

They walked through the terminal and are now by Ashley's skycar, which is as blue as her dress. "Wanna drive?" She asks Olivia.

"Nah, haven't drove in ages." She answered.

They sat in. "Can you give me the NavPoint?"

"Sure." Olivia said. They had a meeting next day with Admiral Hackett and Anderson in the Alliance HQ.

. . .

Hackett and Anderson tried to send a message to Olivia and the crew of the Normandy, but the message never arrived for some reason. They were on Hackett's ship, orbiting Earth.

"This is bad news, Admiral." Hackett said to Anderson.

"How bad is it?" He asked back, turning to the Fleet Admiral.

"Really bad; we just lost contact with two of our deep space outpost." He said, showing the location of the outposts on a galaxy map. "There's something massive on long range scanners."

"Is this Shepard warned us about?"

"I'd stake my life on it." Hackett said. His voice showed fear.

"How long do we have?"

"Two or three days, tops, but I've sent word; the fleets are mobilizing."

"Should we tell the people?"

"No. It would cause unnecessary panic. Our priority is preparing the fleets."

2nd March, 2186 - Earth, Sol, Local, Alliance HQ

Olivia, Ashley and Tali just arrived to the Alliance Headquarters. They stepped out of the car, stretched their backs, and walked to the receptionist.

"Good morning, ladies. How can I help you?" He asked.

"We're looking for Admiral Hackett and Admiral Anderson."

"And you are?"

"Captain Shepard." Olivia answered.

The receptionist looked into the terminal in front of him for appointments with the highest ranking military officials in the Systems Alliance. "I'm sorry, but the Admirals are not in today."

"And where are they?" She asked.

"They left about five hours ago, but they not stated their destination, I'm sorry."

Olivia was thinking about what to do. "Can we visit Commander Shepard's flat, please?" She tried to sound official.

"Of course, but you have to submit your weapons here. It will be given back to you when you leave."

"Certainly." Olivia said. She put down to the desk an Arc pistol and a knife, Ashley a Predator pistol, and Tali an Arc pistol as well.

"He is on the third floor, room three-four-seven."

"Thanks." Olivia said, and they walked to the stairs.

. . .

Lieutenant Vega stood by the door when the three women approached him. "Well, well, it's a lucky day for me." Vega said. "All these beautiful women here…"

"I think you should stop, lieutenant, we all outrank you." Olivia said in not a nice tone.

"Whoa, okay. I was only talking about you two, actually." He said, pointing to the two human women, "Quarian excluded." He added.

Within a second, Olivia repelled the lieutenant through the corridor with a biotic throw. He landed on his side, almost hitting someone. "What the hell?" He asked, trying to stand up.

"I warned you, lieutenant. And she looks better than you." She said, and walked past Vega, opening the door to John's room and stepping in, closing behind the group.

John was looking outside the window, but when he heard Tali running toward him he stood up and returned the hug. They stayed like that for minutes while Olivia and Ashley looked at them.

"How did you get here?" He asked when they parted.

"A little question here, a little biotic attack there, and they let us in." Olivia answered.

"It's nice to see you, sis, and you too, Gunnery Chief."

"Oh, it's Lieutenant Commander now."

"Congratulations, I'm happy for you." He said.

"Thanks."

"You won't be this happy when I tell you on what we came here."

"What do you mean?"

"Admiral Hackett agreed that, given my service record, I would be perfect for commanding the… what's it called… ah, yes; the Normandy." She said, and waited for her brother.

His facial expressions moved from the original happy through disappointment, that Hackett gave up on him, to anger that his sister, for the moment, is the better.

"Is this really necessary, skipper?" Ashley asked. Olivia and John answered at the same time.

"Yes." Olivia answered.

"What?" John asked back at the same time, but when he heard Olivia answering, and saw that Ashley meant her when she said 'skipper', his mood shifted again to betrayed, and sat back down to the chair. He pointed to the two human women, "Get. Out." He said.

Olivia and Ashley, a little afraid, but slowly walked out. They were afraid of Shepard losing his temper, and do something idiotic.

Outside they ran into Lieutenant Vega again. "Not this time, pendejo!" He said, and stepped to the left.

"What is this about?" A man in his eighties asked.

"That woman hit me with a biotic attack." Vega answered.

"Really?" He asked professionally. "Name and rank?"

Olivia saluted, "Captain Olivia Shepard, commander of the SSV Normandy SR2, sir!"

"Captain Shepard? I'm sorry, ma'am." He said. It turned out that he was only a police officer. "Officer Wang, Vancouver Police Department. I'm sorry, ma'am."

"It's alright, officer." She said, and turned to Vega. "I told you." And they left.

. . .

A/N: Thanks for reading! I found some inconsistencies while writing the story, sorry about that. And I'm not sure if 2186 is a leap year; I could've calculated that but I was lazy.

If you can, please follow, favorite and write a review! In the next episode, the Reapers hit Earth. Some won't survive the attack.