Time for more background story, woo hoo!
General disclaimer: I own nothing, Bioware owns all. Reviews are well hearted 3
Arcturus Station: 2182
The shooting range at Arcturus' Alliance facility wasn't anything spectacular. It was just a large room with different vantage points varying with what weapon you were working with. Depending on the days, various storage crates of different sizes, builds, and even cargo were put onto the range. That way, the battle sims never got old. You never knew when a box you were taking cover behind would crumble or explode. When I came back after getting off the Berlin, I found out that they took out the exploding ones during pistol and assault rifle runs. It was a shame, seeing one of the marines you were training with get scared shitless because the box they shot just blew up was quite a laugh.
I had guessed it was a good thing though. I would've hated to screw up and ended up with a third scar on my face. The one I had received on Akuze from the fuel tank had healed up nicely and just left a pinky wide line over my eyebrow. The second one I had received was from when a batarian pistol whipped me, but it was just a small indention on my upper lip I could only see in the right lighting. I knew one thing, Mike on the Berlin sure did know how to heal up cuts.
I had gotten up to the sniper perch, put in earplugs and pulled out my rifle. I checked the sight, surveying the room with it. The room had been filled with a large assortment of crates today. Some in high stacks farther in the back, some on their own and closer to the front. The ones in the front would've left me wide open for the mechs, but as long as I made sure none of them made it past the small strip of the room where there wasn't any cover, a frontal assault wouldn't have been a problem.
I looked over at the two way mirror across the room and gave the signal for the sim to start. The people at the controls released five LOKI mechs onto the floor. I knocked them all out with a head shot as soon as the sim began. After that, row after row of mechs were went out. All trying to get at me with concussive rounds, but I was faster, dealing them each a shot in either the head or the heart. A good twenty minutes had passed when a heavy mech was sent out. That big boy took some more work. I used my Overload ability on my Omnitool to wear down its defenses, then dealt four shots to it's head and it finally fell.
God, I loved the thrill of sniping.
"Commander Shepard?" I looked from the range to see a man in an Alliance captain uniform standing in the doorway of the sniper perch. His skin was rather dark, and even though my plugs were still in, his deep voice reverberated in the perch.
I took out my earplugs and sat down my rifle and faced towards the man. I had been promoted to Lieutenant Commander two years after Akuze. I was still getting used to the title at the time. "How can I help you sir?"
He held out a hand for me to shake "Captain Anderson."
I took his hand in a firm grip and looked at him inquisitively. "Thee Captain Anderson? It's a pleasure sir." I commented.
He chuckled "The pleasure's all mine. Now, I'm sure you'd like to know what I'm here for right?"
"It would be nice, but take your time." I commented, leaning against the railing of the sniper range. "Believe me. I'm not going anywhere." I rolled my eyes. Ever since Captain Lindley was transferred and my position on the Berlin wasn't reinstated, I had been stuck on my home turf of Arcturus. The only things I had shot in the past year being training mechs.
"I know." Anderson said. "You haven't been on anything since you were promoted. And before that was just acting as part of the ground team for the SSV Berlin. Not much action there was there?"
I smirked "Yeah, Lindley was never the type to get in any big scuffles, well, except for the one run in with batarian slavers, but he was still fun to serve under. Saved my ass on Akuze and gave me a position on his ground team, so I owe him a lot. You read my files I take it? "
He nodded "Of course. I like to get to know those I ask to be on my crew."
I stood there dumbstruck "You want me on your crew? What for sir?"
"You've heard of the collaboration deal with the turian fleet correct?" He asked.
I nodded "My dad's a pilot. The whole thing with the turians seems to be his favorite topic lately. He's been following it since he caught wind of it. It's nearing completion isn't it?"
"That's right." Anderson said with a nod. "And that's why I'm here. I've been assigned as captain for the ship. And I need someone who can handle being my second in command."
"You're asking me sir?"
"No one else in the Alliance has the potential you do. There's no one else I'd rather have for that position than you Shepard."
I must have had the dumbest look on my face because I could see Anderson holding back a smile. "Sir, I accept your offer."
Anderson and I shook hands "It's good to have you Commander."
Arcturus Station: Ward 235, Shepard's apartment
I pressed the comm button on my terminal. "Computer, give me a real-time connection to the carrier SSV Noether I want to talk to my father, Flight Commander Travis Shepard."
"Flight comma-, oh, hey Sanders!" My dad's cheerful voice said over the comm. I smiled and shook my head. Even though I was twenty-seven, he had still insisted on calling me the same thing he had since I was a kid. "To what do I owe this rare privilege of a comm feed from my daughter?"
"I got a new posting today. Given what it's on, I guessed you'd want to know."
My father sounded intrigued even over the comm "Oh really now? Hmm... It isn't here with your good ol dad is it?"
I scoffed jokingly "Come on, like I could handle being on the same ship as you. You'd never let me live it down."
He laughed "You're right, I'd be waiting for the first little mistake you'd make and POW!" he said with what sounded like a clap of his hands. He always did like talking with his hands. "The whole damn carrier would know."
I shook my head at his silliness again. "But anyway, I was at the shooting range today and I was visited by Captain Anderson. He offered me a position as his XO on the ship he was picked to have." I said. "And it's that one that you've been oh-so-in love with ever since it was announced."
My dad was silent on the other line, then replied "You're kidding me Sanders."
"Nope. Not at all." I said "I'm supposed to report to Earth in a few months to undergo evaluation before the shakedown run."
"I can't believe my daughter is going to be on the Normandy. I'm envious kiddo. Trust me, I would've jumped at the chance to get behind those controls in a heartbeat." He said with a sigh "I hate to say it, but I have to go. It's time for my shift."
"It's okay dad, I know you're a busy man."
"That I am. Be sure to tell your mom about your new posting too, I'm sure she'd love to hear it." He said.
"I love you dad."
"I love you too Sanders. Shepard out."
