As Shepard headed back towards the center of the camp he was greeted by Liara as she ran up to him, "Shepard you could've gotten yourself killed!"
As Liara ran up Kaidan followed right behind her, "Commander that was reckless! What the hell were you thinking?"
Shepard stepped forward towards Kaidan, "I was thinking I couldn't lose another person under my command! I'm tired of it, if you want to play God and decides who lives and dies go ahead but I can't take it anymore!"
"Commander," Kaidan said slowly as he put his hand on his shoulder, "You need to forgive yourself, sometimes good soldiers die."
"Do you know how many civilians died during the Skylian Blitz, hell do you know how many soldiers died?" Shepard said as he brushed Kaidan arm off of his shoulder. "I'm well aware I can't save everyone, but I'll be damned if I let another person die without a fight."
"Shepard, I didn't mean it like that I'm sorry," Kaidan said.
"Yeah, me to," Shepard said as he walked past Kaidan and Liara as he headed toward the center of the camp.
Garrus stepped in his path when he reached the middle of the camp, "Shepard"
"Not now Garrus," Shepard said as he started to walk past him.
"Damnit Shepard," Garrus said as he grabbed Shepard arm. "You need to pull your head out of your ass! I get that it hurts but that's part of being a leader. Right now you've got an entire ship and crew counting on you to be at your best. Right now they need you more than ever."
Shepard stared back at the turian for a few seconds though deep down he knew Garrus had a point, "You're right."
"We'll get through this" Garrus said as he gave Shepard a smack on the shoulder.
Shepard walked past Garrus as headed towards the supply tent by the Mako. As he reached the Mako he leaned against it as he took inventory of his gear. He took his gloves off and sat them on the ledge of the Mako. He grabbed some medi-gel from one of the first aid compartments on the side of the Mako and loaded it into his suit. He looked up to see Liara in the distance headed toward him, he stood up and headed to greet her. Shepard wrapped his arms around her as he pulled her in close.
"I'm sorry Liara, I shouldn't have walked away like that," Shepard said.
"Don't worry about it, you're under more stress than any of us right now." Liara said as reached up and put her hands his face.
"Thanks," Shepard said.
"Though you could always buy me dinner later," Liara said as she let out a smile and kissed him.
Shepard let out a laugh but quickly regretted it as the anesthesia from the medi-gel had begun to wear off. Shepard instinctively put his hand over the wound as he examined it,
"Shit medi-gels wearing off," Shepard said.
"I'm starting to think you like getting injured," Liara said as she guided him towards a nearby crate.
Liara dispensed some of her medi-gel from her armor and began to apply a fresh layer over the wound.
"You're lucky this didn't hit anything important," Liara said as she finished applying the gel.
"You'd never let me live it down if I got killed," Shepard said before letting out a small chuckle.
"Shepard!" A voice called out to him as he scanned his surroundings he turned his attention of to the center of the camp, he saw Kirrahe beckoning him to the tent.
"We'd better not keep him waiting," Liara said as she helped Shepard off the crate.
They began making their way over to the camp Liara broke the silence, "I don't know what's worse Shepard the geth or all this sand in my… actually never mind," Liara said as they approached the tent.
"Thank you for taking care of the krogan, my plan will be difficult enough as it is, we don't need more pissed off krogan in the mix," Kirrahe said as he approached them.
"So you have a plan then?" Shepard asked as they stepped inside the tent.
"Of sorts, we can convert our ships drive system into an explosive and use it to destroy the facility," Kirrahe said as Kaidan and Garrus stepped in to join them.
"This facility is probably far too fortified to drop that from low orbit, how did you plan on getting past that?" Garrus asked.
"Correct, we'll have to infiltrate the far side of the base and disable the defenses," Kirrahe said as he plotted their route out on the map in front of them.
"That's suicide!" Kaidan interrupted, "We don't have the man power to take their forces head on."
"No not suicide but it's dangerous which is why this will make me request even more difficult," Kirrahe paused. "I'm going to need one of your men to accompany us."
"You expect me to place one my men under your command?" Shepard asked.
"Frankly yes, I need someone familiar with Alliance communication protocols and procedures if we're going to have any hope of surviving. If your men aren't prepared to face these kinds of odds do you really want them on your team?" Kirrahe said.
"My team is more than ready to give their lives for this!" Shepard said as he slammed his hands on the table. "Many already have…"
Kaidan interrupted, "I'll go Commander."
"No… I need you with me, Ashley should be able to get the job done," Shepard said as he slid his hands off the table.
"Commander, I'm not sure I can ask that of one of my men," Kaidan said softly.
"I know," Shepard said as he turned to Kaidan.
"I'll tell her Commander," Kaidan said as he beckoned Williams over to the tent.
"What's going on LT?" Ashley asked.
"You're going to accompany Kirrahe's team on the assault," Shepard said before turning back to the table.
"Alright, what's the plan then?" Ashley asked.
"We're going to divide my men into three teams, each are going to assault a section of the base while Shepard's team goes in the back," Kirrahe said as he plotted out each team's respective position with his finger.
"My team can use the Normandy for extraction but I doubt we'll have time to pick you up how are you going to escape the blast?" Shepard asked.
"Once the bomb is set we'll try to escape the blast radius," Kirrahe said softly.
"There has to be another way," Shepard said as he examined the map.
"There isn't another way Commander!" Kirrahe shouted. "We're tougher than we look, we'll make it."
"My team will do as much as possible to aid you but be careful," Shepard said.
"Thank you Commander, though if you'll excuse me I need to ready my men for what is to come," Kirrahe said as he began rallying his men into formation at the front of the tent. After a few moments he began to speak,
"You all know the mission and what is at stake I have come to trust each of you with my life, but I have also heard rumors of discontent. I share your concerns," Kirrahe said as he stepped closer to his men. "We are trained for espionage. We would be legends but the records are sealed, glory in battle is not our way," Kirrahe exclaimed as he began pacing across the line. "Think of our hero's: the Silent Step, who defeated a nation with a single shot! Or the ever alert who kept armies at bay with hidden facts. These giants do not seem to give us solace here, but they are not all that we are! Before the network, there was the fleet. Before diplomacy, there were soldiers. Our influence stopped the rachni but before that, we held the line! Our influence stopped the krogan but before that, we held the line! Our influence will stop Saren. In the battle today we will hold the line!" Kirrahe said as he turned back to Shepard. "Good luck Commander I hope we will meet again."
"Commander," Kaidan interrupted as he walked into the tent. "We're ready to move."
"Understood, I want you with the core on the Normandy," Shepard said as they walked outside to see the salarian drive core being loaded onto the Normandy.
"Aye Commander," Kaidan said as he began walking over to the Normandy.
Shepard saw the rest of the team gathered near the Mako stocking up on various supplies and double checking their gear.
"Listen up," Shepard shouted as he walked over to them with Liara following close behind. "Garrus you're going to accompany Liara and I. Ashley is going to be accompanying the salarian teams, the rest of you I need protecting the drive core. Kaidan will activate the bomb and coordinate the defense, watch his back."
"We've got this Shepard," Garrus said.
"Just keep shooting and we'll be the only damn thing on the other side," Shepard said as he and his squad moved back over to the tent.
"So where's our entry point?" Garrus asked.
"We're going to be entering here," Shepard said as he pointed to an area near the back of the base.
"One of the salarians will drop us off they still have a few small ground transports that should go unnoticed once the other teams begin their attack," Shepard said as he pointed toward the three team's attack objectives.
"Sounds simple enough," Liara said with a hint of optimism in her voice.